Shah declared that the BJP was no longer a “growing party” in Kerala, but one with an active presence in every booth. He said the time had come for the BJP to form a government in the state.
Published Jul 12, 2025 | 7:04 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 12, 2025 | 7:04 PM
Shah said the people of Kerala deserved "a corruption-free, development-focused administration."
Synopsis: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Bharatiya Janata Party’s most ambitious campaign in Kerala to date, declaring at a rally in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday that the party is now ready to form a government in the state. The upcoming local body elections, where the BJP aims to contest over 21,000 wards and secure more than 25 percent of the vote, are set to be its first major test.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched an all-out political offensive against Kerala’s ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), setting the tone for the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) most ambitious bid yet to capture power in the state in the 2026 Assembly elections.
Addressing a massive public meeting at Putharikandam Maidan in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, 12 July, and a ward-level leaders’ meet at the ‘Vikasit Kerala’ convention, Shah declared that the BJP was no longer a “growing party” in Kerala, but one with an active presence in every booth.
He said the time had come for the BJP to form a government in the state.
Shah lashed out at the LDF government, describing the 2020 diplomatic gold smuggling case as the “biggest State government-sponsored scam” India has ever witnessed.
Amit Shah at a rally in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday.
He also cited several other controversies – the AI camera project, Exalogic dealings, cooperative bank scandals, LIFE Mission irregularities, and PPE kit procurements – branding the Left regime as synonymous with corruption.
The UDF, he alleged, was no better during its time in power.
Reiterating that both the LDF and UDF thrived on vote bank politics and appeasement, Shah said the people of Kerala deserved “a corruption-free, development-focused administration.”
“Kerala gave BJP 11 percent votes in 2014, which rose to 16 percent in 2019 and to 20 percent in 2024. The next step is forming a government here,” he said.
He added that the BJP would contest over 21,000 wards in the upcoming local body elections, aiming for a vote share of over 25 percent.
The local body polls, expected later this year, are being seen as a key precursor to the 2026 Assembly elections.
Shah also took a swipe at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is currently abroad for medical treatment, saying he should take note that the BJP’s biggest programme in Kerala was underway in his absence.
He invoked the legacy of social reformers such as Mannathu Padmanabhan, Sree Narayana Guru, Ayyankali, and Pandit Karuppan, declaring this as the beginning of the BJP-led NDA’s rule in Kerala.
Citing the Modi government’s clean governance record after 11 years in office, Shah promised a “Developed Kerala” led by transparent administration, the end of appeasement politics, and a governance model that prioritises people’s welfare over cadre interests.
The state leadership later said: “The party’s next goal is to make Shah’s words of securing maximum victory with 25 percent of the votes in the local elections a reality. As he requested, we can dedicate the next four months to that.”
Meanwhile, ahead of the crucial local body and Assembly elections, the party has announced a major revamp of its Kerala state leadership.
New office bearers of BJP Kerala
The reshuffle, unveiled on Friday in line with Shah’s visit, signals a clear attempt to rework internal dynamics and expand the party’s social and communal outreach.
Prominent leader Sobha Surendran, veteran MT Ramesh, former secretary S Suresh, and Anoop Antony Joseph have been appointed as General Secretaries.
Notably, former DGP R Sreelekha and young leader Shaun George – son of former MLA PC George – have been named Vice-Presidents, part of a list of ten that also includes former vice-chancellors KS Radhakrishnan and M Abdul Salam.
The reshuffle marks the first major organisational overhaul since Rajeev Chandrasekhar took charge as State President in March.
Party insiders say the revamp reflects his intent to infuse new energy into the state unit by blending seasoned leaders with professionals and representatives from minority communities.
The inclusion of Christian leaders like Shaun George and Anoop Antony Joseph signals the BJP’s continuing effort to shed its anti-minority image.
However, party sources also note the sidelining of leaders close to former state chief K Surendran and Union Minister V Muraleedharan.
Despite murmurs of discontent, senior leaders insist there is consensus on the new line-up.
Whether this mix of fresh faces, communal outreach, and sharp anti-incumbency messaging can finally break the state’s bipolar political landscape remains to be seen.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
