Shah claimed communism had lost relevance worldwide and that the Congress was declining across India, positioning the BJP-led NDA as the only viable option for Kerala’s future.
Published Jan 11, 2026 | 6:28 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 11, 2026 | 6:29 PM
Shah said the BJP was on course to form its first-ever government in Kerala.
Synopsis: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp offensive against the ruling LDF and the Opposition UDF in Kerala on Sunday, 11 January, during his visit to the state, projecting the BJP as an alternative to both, with months to go before the 2026 Assembly elections. He said the polls would be a “turning point” and that the BJP was on course to form its first-ever government in Kerala.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah began his Kerala visit on Sunday, 11 January, with a stop at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, offering prayers along with BJP state leaders and receiving a traditional kasavu shawl from temple authorities.
The visit, ahead of the rare Lakshadeepam ritual scheduled for 14 January, set the tone for what became a politically charged day.
Addressing a meeting of newly elected BJP representatives from local self-government institutions, Shah launched a sharp attack on both the ruling LDF and the Opposition UDF, accusing the two fronts of failing to unlock Kerala’s vast potential.
From the temple premises to party platforms, Shah’s message was clear: the BJP believes Kerala is ready for political change.
Pointing to the BJP’s electoral trajectory in the State, Shah said the party’s vote share had steadily risen from 11 percent in 2014 to 20 percent in 2024, indicating consistent growth over the past decade.
He described the 2026 Assembly elections as a “turning point” and expressed confidence that the BJP was on course to form its first-ever government in Kerala.
BJP state unit president Rajeev Chandrasekhar receives Amit Shah.
Highlighting the party’s expanding grassroots presence, Shah credited BJP workers for recent gains in local body elections.
He said the party had secured control of several gram panchayats and municipalities and currently holds the mayoral post in Thiruvananthapuram.
These achievements, he said, were the result of years of sustained effort and sacrifice, including imprisonment and personal hardship faced by party workers.
Shah argued that despite Kerala’s strong social indicators, the politics of the LDF and UDF had led to stagnation. He urged voters to look beyond the two traditional alliances, saying issues such as development, security and the protection of cultural values required a new political alternative.
Referring to national and global trends, he said communism had lost relevance worldwide and that the Congress was declining across India, positioning the BJP-led NDA as the only viable platform for Kerala’s future.
Shah targeted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the alleged gold theft at Sabarimala, demanding that the case be handed over to what he termed a “neutral investigation agency”.
Launching the BJP’s Mission 2026 campaign at the same gathering, Shah said the alleged theft was not merely a State issue but a matter of faith for devotees across the country.
Those who failed to safeguard the sacred assets of Sabarimala, he said, could not be trusted to protect the beliefs of the people.
Claiming to have reviewed the FIR, Shah alleged that it appeared to be framed in a manner that shielded the accused. He further claimed that two individuals with links to the ruling LDF were under suspicion, raising serious doubts about the possibility of an impartial probe.
Shah also alleged that information had emerged suggesting the involvement of Congress leaders.
Calling for the investigation to be transferred to an independent agency, Shah said the BJP would take the issue directly to the public through protests and door-to-door campaigns. Describing it as a democratic right, he urged the Chief Minister to order a neutral investigation.
While acknowledging that forming a BJP government in Kerala would not be easy, Shah reiterated that the party’s objective was clear: to come to power under the lotus symbol and install a BJP Chief Minister in the State.
The Kerala government responded to Shah’s criticisms by pointing to sustained financial pressure from the Centre.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a post on X, announced that Kerala would open a “new front of resistance” on 12 January in Thiruvananthapuram against what he termed ongoing financial strangulation by the Centre.
A one-day satyagraha with mass participation will be held in protest against the sanctions imposed on the State.
According to the Chief Minister, ₹5,900 crore has been cut from Kerala’s eligible borrowing limit for the final three months of the current financial year, taking the total reduction for the year to ₹17,000 crore.
He also said the State’s request for an additional ₹6,000 crore loan as compensation for National Highway land acquisition costs remains pending.
Further, ₹965 crore in IGST recovery is being withheld, ₹3,300 crore in borrowing permission has been denied citing guarantee deposits, and arrears under centrally sponsored schemes have reached ₹5,784 crore.
Terming these measures a concerted attempt to stall Kerala’s progress, Vijayan said the State would resist them collectively, asserting that the people of Kerala would fight and prevail.
