Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Union minister O Rajagopal is likely to contest from Palakkad in the coming Assembly elections in Kerala [Images].

Party sources said the decision was taken at a meeting of state leaders held in Thrissur to discuss election strategy.

The party, which fared well in last year's civic polls, also decided to put up candidates in all the 140 seats in the state, and also try to rope in some independents.

The party, which is yet to make an electoral breakthrough in Kerala, will strive to present itself as a credible alternative in the state, harping on the theme that the Congress-led United Democratic Front and the Communist Party of India-Marxist controlled Left Democratic Front are in the same boat at the Centre, sources said.

The party leaders also resolved to be united, burying factionalism.

Sate president P S Sreedharan Pillai, the party's national vice president L Ganesan and Rajagopal were among the leaders who attended the meeting.