The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Kerala): In a move that has sparked controversy, K Surendran, the BJP’s Kerala president and candidate for Wayanad in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, has pledged to rename the town of Sultan Bathery to Ganapativattam if he wins. Surendran questions the historical significance of Tipu Sultan in relation to Wayanad, suggesting that the name change would rectify a historical misrepresentation.
During a conversation with ANI, Surendran argued that the original name of the place was Ganapativattam, which was changed following invasions by Tipu Sultan, whom he accused of committing several religious atrocities in the region. He claimed that both of the major political coalitions in Kerala—the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front—support the name Sultan Bathery due to their affiliations with Tipu Sultan’s legacy.
Surendran also alleged that Tipu Sultan was responsible for the forced conversions of many Hindus in Kerala, particularly in the Wayanad and Malabar areas. These statements are part of a broader narrative that the BJP candidate is using to challenge his opponents, including Annie Raja of the CPI and the incumbent MP from Congress, Rahul Gandhi.
The elections in Kerala, which will send 20 representatives to the Lok Sabha, are scheduled for April 26, with the vote count set for June 4.