KOCHI: Buoyed by its performance in the Lok Sabha elections in Kerala, the BJP state leadership has decided to begin preparations for the local body elections in 2025 and the assembly elections in 2026.
The BJP, which secured its first LS seat — Thrissur — in the state and also increased its vote share in many constituencies, will be positioning itself as a futuristic party focused on development. Its candidates who performed well in the just concluded polls will be asked to concentrate on the respective constituencies, and spend 10 days a month there.
An analysis of BJP’s vote share shows it came first in 11 assembly segments six of them under Thrissur LS constituency and second in eight others.
The party will be concentrating on 20 assembly seats for the 2026 elections. Its immediate focus, however, will be on Palakkad, which will go for a bypoll soon following the victory of incumbent MLA Shafi Parambil from Vadakara LS constituency.
Actor Suresh Gopi, who won from Thrissur by 74,686 votes, secured first place in six assembly segments with comfortable margins, igniting BJP’s hopes. Guruvayur was the lone assembly segment where he couldn’t make an impact.
Likewise, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar was ahead of rival Shashi Tharoor by 22,126 votes in Nemom, 10,842 votes in Kazhakkoottam and 8,162 in Vattiyoorkavu assembly segments under Thiruvananthapuram LS constituency. However, Parassala, Neyyattinkara and Kovalam segments stood by Tharoor, sealing Rajeev’s fate.
Union Minister V Muraleedharan’s performance in Attingal LS constituency too has given BJP the feeling that it can win the seat with a little more effort. Muraleedharan secured a lead of 6,287 votes in Attingal and 4,779 votes in Kattakkada assembly constituencies.
The BJP leadership feels the LS poll results helped it overcome political untouchability and created a feeling that the party is a serious player in Kerala politics.
8 Assembly constituencies where BJP came second
Thiruvananthapuram
Kovalam
Neyyattinkara
Haripad
Kayamkulam
Palakkad
Manjeswaram
Kasaragod
11 Assembly constituencies where BJP came first/ Margin (Difference between BJP candidate and nearest candidate )
Thrissur : 14,117
Nattika: 13,945
Irinjalakuda: 13,016
Puthukkad: 12,692
Ollur: 10,363
Manalur: 8,013
Nemam: 22,126
Kazhakottam: 10,842
Vattiyoorkavu: 8,162
Attingal: 6,287
Kattakada: 4,779
Kerala voters have lost faith in state’s bipolar politics, says Prakash Javadekar
“The result is no accident, but the fruits of our hard labour. We began preparations for the 2024 elections in 2022 itself. Our vote share is 20% now, and this has changed perceptions about the party. We have decided to launch preparations for (Kerala) assembly elections. The state committee will chart out our strategy soon,” said BJP state president K Surendran.
The BJP national leadership too is happy with the trend of shifting of votes from the Congress and CPM, as revealed by an analysis of its share in Thrissur, Attingal, Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Alappuzha and Palakkad constituencies. BJP feels the trend will pick up.
“Kerala voters have lost faith in the state’s bipolar politics. The BJP fought the election on development plank. The people of Kerala have accepted our development agenda which is evident in the results,” said BJP Kerala Prabhari Prakash Javadekar.