Will Kummanam Rajasekharan resign governorship to contest Lok Sabha election from Thiruvananthapuram? ‘Hopefully’, says the BJP camp. Most group leaders in the party are indifferent to his return. But Kummanam is one leader who can take on Shashi Tharoor, feel party members.

The RSS wants Kummanam to come back to Kerala. It has conveyed this message strongly to the central leadership. If he declines, the next choice is Suresh Gopi.

The main hindrance for Kummanam’s return is his governorship. Other prominent BJP leaders, including Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala, have asked for their return to active politics. If BJP agrees to one, it will have to agree to all.

Kummanam is said to be in favour of a return. Some leaders who have an eye on the Thiruvananthapuram seat may not insist on his return. That is where RSS stance becomes pivotal.

The ones who returned

Vakkom Purushothaman (Congress): Contested from Attingal in 1996 returning from the position of Lieutenant Governor of Andaman Nicobar with two years to go. Though he lost to Anathalavattom Anandan of the CPM for a mere 1,016 votes, the veteran won from the same constituency in 2001 and became speaker and finance minister. He took up governorship of Mizoram in 2011-2014.

Nikhil Kumar (Congress): The Kerala governor gave up his position to contest from Aurangabad, Bihar, in 2014 only to lose by 66,347 votes.

Ram Dulari Sinha (Congress): The Kerala governor until 1990 decided to contest Lok Sabha election in 1991 from Sheohar, Bihar, only to finish third.

Karan Singh (Congress): He gave up governorship of Jammu and Kashmir to contest from Udhampur in 1967 and won by 2.5 lakh votes.

Sardar Jogendra Singh (Congress): Lost from Bahraich in UP in 1977 after giving up governorship of Rajasthan.

RD Bhandari (Congress): The Andhra Pradesh governor lost from Bombay North Central in 1977.

Hokishe Sema (Congress): Entered Rajya Sabha from Nagaland in 1986 after governorship of Himachal Pradesh.

Anand Prasad Sarma (Congress): Bengal governor. Resigned in 1984. Elected to Rajya Sabha from Bihar.

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