New Delhi: The party is now making Kerala, which was BJP’s biggest challenge in South India, its political laboratory. This state, which has been known as a stronghold of leftist parties for years, is preparing to take a big leap in the assembly elections this time. Union Home Minister Amit Shah himself has taken command of this entire mission.
BJP’s morale is high after its success in the recent local body elections. The party is considering the victory in the capital Thiruvananthapuram as the beginning of a new political era for itself. With this enthusiasm, Amit Shah gave the slogan while addressing the workers in Kerala. "What has never changed will change now.”
Focus on Kerala under the leadership of Amit Shah
During his recent visit to Kerala, Amit Shah tried to instill new enthusiasm among the party workers. Giving examples of states like Manipur and Tripura, he said that where BJP was once marginalized, it now has governments there. He also referred to 1984, when BJP had only two MPs in the Lok Sabha and now the party is in power at the Center for the third consecutive time.
BJP is seeing the growing anti-incumbency environment against the Left government in Kerala as a big opportunity and is working on a strategy to reach out to the people with the development agenda.
Confidence increased due to local body elections
The recently held local body elections have given new energy to the BJP. After victory in the Municipal Corporation of the capital Thiruvananthapuram and two municipalities, the party has gained confidence that change in Kerala politics is possible.
In Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, BJP created history by winning 50 out of 101 wards and for the first time BJP became the mayor in Kerala. NDA got more than 23 percent vote share in all six municipal corporations, which clearly showed the growing acceptance of the party among urban voters.
NDA’s increasing vote share
BJP’s confidence rests not only on slogans but also on figures. NDA’s vote share has continuously increased in Kerala.
In 2001, BJP’s vote share was around 3 percent, which increased to 12 to 15 percent between 2016 and 2021.
In the Lok Sabha elections, BJP got 12 percent votes in 2014, 16 percent in 2019 and about 20 percent in 2024, with which it also got one seat. Although this increase is not yet fully visible in the assembly seats, but the party is considering it as the foundation of the future.
Catch in cities as well as villages
BJP does not want to be limited to just urban areas. In the recent civic elections, the party stood second in 79 gram panchayats, which shows that its base is gradually increasing in the villages also. This is a strategically important signal for the party.
Sabarimala and social equations
In Kerala, BJP is paying attention to social and emotional issues along with development. The Sabarimala issue has become a topic for the party, which has helped it build a lasting relationship with a section of Hindu voters, especially in southern Kerala.
Along with this, inclination towards the party has also increased in some parts of the Ezhava OBC community. This community constitutes about 26 percent of the Hindu population and has traditionally been considered a supporter of leftist parties.
BJP becomes stronger with OBC leadership
Many big faces of BJP like K. Surendran, V. Muraleedharan and Shobha Surendran come from this OBC community. The party hopes that this social equation can give it a big advantage in the coming assembly elections.
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