By Shankar Raj*
Thiruvananthapuram: After winning the first Lok Sabha seat in Kerala where its vote percentage also went up in the recent general elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state leadership appears galvanised as it now begins the preparations for the local body elections in 2025 and the assembly elections in 2026.
An analysis of the BJP’s vote share shows it came first in 11 assembly segments, six of them under the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency which it won, and second in eight others.
Now the saffron party aims to focus on these assembly constituencies where it projects itself as the party that can usher in true development, not just promises. Its candidates who performed well in these assembly constituencies will be asked to concentrate on the respective constituencies and spend at least 10 days a month there.
According to sources in the party, the BJP will be concentrating on 20 assembly seats for the 2026 elections. Its immediate focus, however, will be on Palakkad, which will go for a by-poll soon following the victory of incumbent Member of the Legislative Assembly Shafi Parambil from the Vadakara Lok Sabha constituency. Palakkad is a stronghold of the BJP.
Actor Suresh Gopi, who won from Thrissur by 74,686 votes, secured first place in six assembly segments with comfortable margins. This has come as happy and inspiring news for the BJP.
Similarly, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar was ahead of rival Shashi Tharoor in three major assembly segments under Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency. Union Minister V Muraleedharan’s performance in Attingal too has given the BJP hope in two assembly constituencies.
Meanwhile, Suresh Gopi has indicated that he is not keen on a ministerial berth in the Union Cabinet as he has commitments to fulfill in about five movies and needs to complete them.
“I am of the opinion that becoming a minister would build walls around me and hence I am not keen on it. But, I have made it clear that to make my visions about Kerala a reality, I need ministers representing at least five portfolios at my beck and call,” he said, adding that the same would be conveyed to the party leadership at the Centre.
However, the voters in the Thrissur constituency are expecting the Centre to keep its promise of giving them a Union minister.
*Shankar Raj is a former editor of The New Indian Express, Karnataka and Kerala, and writes regularly on current affairs.
