{{short description|Political leader from Kerala}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Sobha Surendran

| image = Sobha Surendran DSW.jpg

| birth_date = {{Birth-date and age|1969||}}

| birth_place = [[Thrissur district|Thrissur]], [[Kerala]], India

| nationality = [[Indian people|Indian]]

| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]

| office1 = Vice President of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], [[Kerala]]

| residence = [[Thrissur district|Thrissur]], Kerala

| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|Social worker}}

| alma_mater = [[University of Calicut]]

| spouse = K. K. Surendran

| children = 2

'''Sobha Surendran''' (born 1969) is an Indian politician from the state of [[Kerala]], allied to the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP). Sobha is the first woman politician from Kerala BJP to hold a position at the national level.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://malayalam.samayam.com/latest-news/kerala-news/who-is-kerala-bjp-woman-leader-sobha-surendran-latest-news-kerala-local-body-election/articleshow/79317070.cms|title=BJP the first woman politician from Kerala BJP |website=malayalam.samayam.com}}</ref> She has acted as the state president of [[BJP Mahila Morcha]]. She also serves on the [[board of directors]] of the [[Chennai Petroleum Corporation]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/chennai-petroleum-corporation-ltd/infocompanymanagement/companyid-11661.cms|title=Chennai Petroleum Corporation Management Information - Details of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Management - The Economic Times|website=economictimes.indiatimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/bjps-power-couple/article8530678.ece| title = BJP's power couple - The Hindu| newspaper = The Hindu| date = 28 April 2016| last1 = Naha| first1 = Abdul Latheef}} </ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/mar/15/kerala-elections-2021-bjps-sobha-surendran-puts-state-leadership-in-the-dock-over-denial-ofticket-2276639.html| title = Kerala elections 2021: BJP's Sobha Surendran puts state leadership in the dock over denial of ticket- The New Indian Express}} </ref>

==Personal life==

Sobha was born in the [[Wadakkancherry]], [[Thrissur district]], [[Kerala]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/elections-2016/india/india-news-india/kerala-assembly-elections-2016-choice-of-bjp-candidates-upsets-many-supporters-2773571/|title=Choice of BJP candidates upsets many supporters in Kerala|date=28 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web title=Biodata of Shobha%20Surendran|url=http://keralaassembly.org/lok/sabha/biodata.php4?no=120&name=Shobha%20Surendran|website=keralaassembly.org|access-date=10 March 2019}}</ref> Sobha is married to K. K. Surendran, a [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] politician also from Wadakkanchery.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.newindianexpress.com/elections/elections-2016/2016/apr/16/husband-wife-duo-to-try-luck-in-kerala-polls-924933.html| title = Husband-wife Duo to Try Luck in Kerala Polls- The New Indian Express}} </ref>

==Political career==

Sobha was the state president of the Mahila Morcha.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/nov/29/absence-of-woman-leader-at-the-helm-leaves-bjp-worried-2229437.html|title=Absence of woman leader at the helm leaves BJP worried|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> She was a member of the party's core committee and was the state [[Secretary (title)|general secretary]] of the party.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/bjps-power-couple/article8530678.ece|title=BJP's power couple|first=Abdul Latheef|last=Naha|newspaper=The Hindu|date=28 April 2016|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> She was later moved from state general secretary to vice-president.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/nov/02/sobhas-outburst-exposes-chinks-in-kerala-bjp-2218082.html|title=Sobha Surendran's outburst exposes chinks in Kerala BJP|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

In 2016, there was a close contest and she came second with 40,087 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.india.com/assembly-election-2016/kerala/palakkad/|title=Palakkad Assembly Election 2016 Latest News & Results|website=India.com|language=en-EN|access-date=2020-01-14}}</ref>

Sobha, as the party's state general secretary, was then contesting both legislative assembly and general elections on a BJP ticket.

Over the years her election results have been improving the party vote share.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/politics/120419/left-sitting-pretty-in-its-attingal-bastion.html|title=Left sitting pretty in its Attingal bastion|first=Cynthia|last=Chandran|date=12 April 2019|website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref>

In 2019, Sobha contested the [[Attingal]] constituency and came third against [[Adoor Prakash]] of the [[Indian National Congress]]. In 2014 BJP got 92000 votes and in 2019 BJP got 248000 votes in Attingal.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/lok-sabha-elections-2019/kerala/attingal-election-result-s11p19/|title=Attingal Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 Live: Attingal Constituency Election Results, News, Candidates, Vote Paercentage|website=News18|access-date=2020-01-14}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-48315659|title=Lok Sabha: India general election results 2019|date=2019-05-22|access-date=2020-01-14|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2021, for the Assembly election, Sobha Surendran contested the [[Kazhakoottam|Kazhakkoottam]] constituency in the [[Thiruvananthapuram]] district and lost to [[Kadakampally Surendran]] CPI(M) candidate.{{citation needed|date= September 2022}}

In [[2024 Indian general election|2024 general election]], she contested from [[Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency|Alappuzha constituency]] and lost.<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha/ls-poll-bjp-fields-a-mix-of-high-profile-veterans-and-new-faces-in-12-seats-in-state/article67907780.ece</ref>

{| class="sortable wikitable"

|+Election candidature history

|-

! |Election

! |Year

! |Constituency

! colspan="3"|Opponent

! |Result

! |Margin

|-

|rowspan = "2"|[[Lok Sabha]]

|[[2019 Indian general election in Kerala|2019]]

|[[Attingal Lok Sabha constituency|Attingal]]

|{{party name with color|Indian National Congress}}

|[[Adoor Prakash]]

|{{no2|Lost}}

|{{no2|132,914}}

|-

|[[2024 Indian general election in Kerala|2024]]

|[[Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency|Alappuzha]]

|{{party name with color|Indian National Congress}}

|[[K. C. Venugopal]]

|{{no2|Lost}}

|{{no2|104,912}}

|-

|rowspan = "2"|[[Kerala Legislative Assembly]]

|[[2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2016]]

|[[Palakkad Assembly constituency|Palakkad]]

|{{party name with color|Indian National Congress}}

||[[Shafi Parambil]]

|{{no2|Lost}}

|{{no2|17,483}} <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.in/kerala/assembly-constituencies/2016-election-results.html |title=Kerala Assembly Election - 2016 |publisher=Elections.in |accessdate=2021-05-20}}</ref>

|-

|[[2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2021]]

|[[Kazhakootam Assembly constituency|Kazhakootam]]

|{{party name with color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}

|[[Kadakampally Surendran]]

|{{no2|Lost}}

|{{no2|23,497}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://results.eci.gov.in/Result2021/ConstituencywiseS11114.htm?ac=114|title=Kerala Assembly Election - 2021 |publisher=Elections.in |accessdate=2021-06-16}}</ref>

|-

|}

==Controversies==

After being appointed state vice-president Sobha Surendran was reluctant to take up the post, which triggered a controversy within the Party.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/sobha-surendran-falls-in-line-attends-bjp-meet/article33753589.ece|title=Sobha Surendran falls in line, attends BJP meet|first=S.|last=Anandan|newspaper=The Hindu|date=4 February 2021|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-bjp-leader-sobha-surendran-alleges-bid-in-state-unit-to-humiliate-her-6912895/|title=Kerala BJP leader Sobha Surendran alleges bid in state unit to humiliate her|date=2 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/dec/25/attempt-at-disciplinary-action-against-sobha-surendran-foiled-2240815.html|title=Attempt at disciplinary action against Sobha Surendran foiled|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/sobhas-outburst-brings-unusual-camaraderie-in-bjp/articleshow/78987407.cms|title=Sobha's outburst brings unusual camaraderie in BJP &#124; Thiruvananthapuram News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=2 November 2020 }}</ref>

Her statement about welcoming the [[Indian Union Muslim League]] into the [[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]], in an interview, had caused confusion in the BJP. The BJP state president [[K. Surendran|K. Surendran (politician)]] refuted her statement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/feb/28/sobha-invites-iuml-to-nda-fold-leaves-k-surendran-in-a-spot-2269977.html|title=Sobha invites IUML to NDA fold, leaves K Surendran in a spot|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/bjp-leaders-blow-hot-and-cold-on-iuml-ties/articleshow/81249081.cms|title=Kerala: BJP leaders blow hot and cold on IUML ties &#124; Kochi News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=28 February 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/bjp-list-earns-sobha-surendrans-sarcasm/articleshow/81504508.cms|title = BJP list earns Sobha Surendran's sarcasm &#124; Thiruvananthapuram News - Times of India|website = [[The Times of India]]| date=15 March 2021 }}</ref>

In 2018, during the BJP's protest march against the arrest of [[K. Surendran (politician)|K. Surendran]] in [[Kannur]], Sobha made provocative comments against the police and threatened SP Yathish Chandra.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shobha Surendran booked for provocative statements against Kerala cops|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/kerala/top-news/2018/11/28/shobha-surendran-booked-threatening-yathish-chandra.html|access-date=2021-03-18|website=www.onmanorama.com}}</ref> She was arrested by the [[Kerala Police]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-11-29|title=BJP leader Sobha Surendran booked for threatening remarks against Kerala police|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/bjp-leader-sobha-surendran-booked-threatening-remarks-against-kerala-police-92407|access-date=2021-03-18|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref>

==Protests and struggles==

Sobha Surendran was one of the key figures arrested by police in the [[Sabarimala]] protests.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/dec/28/sabarimala-issue-fasting-bjp-leader-shobha-surendran-arrested-shifted-to-hospital-1917727.html|title=Sabarimala issue: Fasting BJP leader Shobha Surendran arrested, shifted to hospital|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/sabarimala-strike-bjp-leader-sobha-takes-over-fast-ck-padmanabhan-hospitalised-93660|title=Sabarimala strike: BJP leader Sobha takes over fast as CK Padmanabhan is hospitalised|date=20 December 2018|website=The News Minute}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/sabarimala-row-bjp-leader-on-hunger-strike-arrested-shifted-to-hospital201812191749320003/|title=Sabarimala row: BJP leader on hunger strike arrested, shifted to hospital|website=ANI News}}</ref> She fasted for 48 hours in support of the agitation by PSC job seekers in the PSC rank lists in the Secretariat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/feb/19/sobhas-presence-in-psc-job-aspirants-stir-lands-bjp-in-a-fix-2265882.html|title=Sobha's presence in PSC job aspirants' stir lands BJP in a fix|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/sobha-surendran-stages-sit-in-protest-to-support-psc-rank-holders-issue-1.5446820|title=Sobha Surendran stages sit-in protest to support PSC rank holders' issue|website=Mathrubhumi}}</ref> Subsequently, Sobha met with the [[Arif Mohammad Khan|Kerala Governor]] and received assurances that he would act in favor of the job aspirants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/feb/20/sobha-surendranarranges-talks-between-guv-psc-agitators-2266346.html|title=Sobha Surendran arranges talks between Guv, PSC agitators|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/feb/21/governors-intervention-in-psc-job-seekers-stir-a-turning-pointsobha-surendran-2266808.html|title=Governor's intervention in PSC job seekers' stir a turning point: Sobha Surendran|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://malayalam.oneindia.com/news/kerala/shobha-surendran-about-meeting-governor-over-psc-rank-holders-strike-280756.html|title=Sobha-surendran-about-meeting-governor-over|first=Sajitha|last=Gopie|date=20 February 2021|website=malayalam.oneindia.com}}</ref>

In November 2020, Sobha alleged that the party president, [[K. Surendran (politician)|K. Surendran]], had organised a political conspiracy against her, both personally and politically, to end her political career.<ref>{{Cite web|title=K Surendran conspired against me, says Sobha|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/nov/05/k-surendran-conspired-against-me-says-sobha-2219480.html|access-date=2021-03-18|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> She wrote a complaint letter to BJP national president JP [[J. P. Nadda|Nadda]] and union home minister [[Amit Shah]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sobha Surendran accuses K Surendran of trying to end her political career|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/sobha-surendran-accuses-k-surendran-of-trying-to-end-her-political-career-1.5174434|access-date=2021-03-18|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en}}</ref>

==References==

{{reflist}}

* {{Facebook|SobhaSurendranOfficial}}

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:People from Thrissur district]]

[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]