THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With assembly elections around the corner, Poonjar ex-MLA P C George is set to hog the limelight once again. Even as he gets ready to contest as the BJP candidate, the veteran leader is learnt to have got an offer from the BJP central leadership to be the vice-chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities. Notwithstanding the same, the party has given him indications to go ahead with his candidature from Poonjar.
A former UDF chief whip who was part of different Kerala Congress factions for long, George joined the BJP camp in 2024 after his party Kerala Janapaksham, merged with the BJP. A seven-time legislator from Poonjar, George has won from here in 1980, 1982, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016, when he emerged victorious defeating all the three fronts. However in 2021, he lost to LDF candidate Sebastian Kulathumkal of Kerala Congress (Mani) by 16,817 votes.
Considering his popularity in the constituency, the BJP has given him the green signal to start campaigning for the elections. “It’s true that he has been given an offer as Minority Commission vice-chairman. However, the party is also keen on getting a few MLAs this time around. It seems they have sufficient intelligence inputs favouring George’s winning possibilities in a triangular contest. That’s why, the leadership wants him to contest,” said sources close to him.