Thiruvananthapuram: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the newly built, state-of-the-art Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram on July 12. During his Kerala visit, the Minister will also participate in a series of political and cultural engagements across the state.

The inauguration ceremony of the seven-storey, 60,000-square-foot building is scheduled for 11 am today. The new office replaces the former Mararji Bhavan, which had served as the party’s state headquarters for many years. The foundation stone for the new building was laid by Shah on June 3, 2017.

Ahead of the visit, Amit Shah posted on social media platform X:

 

Following the inauguration, Shah will address the 'Viksit Keralam Sammelan' at Putharikandam Maidan in Thiruvananthapuram. The event is viewed as a major outreach initiative by the BJP as it seeks to bolster its presence in Kerala.

In the evening, the Minister will visit Kannur, where he is scheduled to offer prayers at the Sri Rajarajeshwara Temple in Taliparamba. The temple visit is seen as part of the BJP’s broader strategy to connect with Kerala’s cultural and spiritual traditions.

The visit comes at a time of growing political activity in the state, as parties gear up for the 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, expected to be held in May. The contest is likely to be a high-stakes battle between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Indian National Congress. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) aims to expand its base and maintain a strong third position.

Meanwhile, on July 10, the Central government approved the release of ₹1,066.80 crore to states affected by floods and landslides, including Kerala.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the funds were disbursed as part of the Central share from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The allocations include Rs 375.60 crore for Assam, Rs 29.20 crore for Manipur, Rs 30.40 crore for Meghalaya, Rs 22.80 crore for Mizoram, Rs 153.20 crore for Kerala, and Rs 455.60 crore for Uttarakhand. Highlighting the Centre’s commitment to disaster relief and state welfare, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated on X, “Modi government stands resolutely beside the states in all situations.”