Kerala BJP unit eyeing upcoming local body, assembly polls; Nadda to attend leadership meeting

Thiruvananthapuram: Electrified by the increased vote share and ensuring representation for Kerala in the Lok Sabha, the BJP is gearing up to strategise a plan for the local body and legislative assembly elections. The statewide leadership meeting, to be held in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday with around 3,000 organisational office-bearers, will mark the beginning of election preparations.

Leaders from the panchayat committee level onwards will take part in the meeting, to be held at Girideepam Convention Centre, scheduled from 11 am to 6 pm. BJP National President J.P. Nadda will join the event in the evening.

The goals include:

• Increasing number of current local representatives from 1,600,
• Attaining power in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and other Corporations, 25 municipalities, and 100 panchayats, and
• Ensuring representation in the legislative assembly.

The BJP assesses that the voter erosion in party-dominated villages of the CPM suggests unrest within the Left Front, which they aim to exploit for making inroads. An action plan will be devised to eliminate the cold shoulder from the coastal region, which was a major factor in the BJP’s defeat in Thiruvananthapuram.

The BJP also finds solace in the support of the Ezhava community, which was traditionally considered a vote bank for the CPM. The anti-incumbency sentiment, along with the CPM’s alleged minority appeasement stance, is believed to have influenced the Christian community's voting pattern. Priority will be given to strengthen the NDA’s association with Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and backward communities, irrespective of whether they are small or large.

BJP's Lok Sabha poll performance

In February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a bold prediction during a party event in Thiruvananthapuram, foreseeing a two-digit win for the NDA in Kerala. Though the prediction did not come true, Suresh Gopi's victory did come as a morale booster for the BJP as it ended their long wait for a win in the Lok Sabha elections in the state.

Rather than spearheaded by individual candidates, the BJP's campaign prominently featured Prime Minister Modi himself. This strategic move paid off, as evidenced by the overwhelming support garnered by the BJP across various constituencies. BJP capitalised on the discord between the LDF and UDF, leveraging anti-incumbency sentiments against the State government. BJP's approach, particularly focusing on Christian sects, further increased its support base in many constituencies. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections have however marked a significant turnaround, with the NDA securing victory in a seat where it was previously not considered a strong contender. This breakthrough win for the NDA in Kerala heralds a potential shift in the State's political landscape.