Lotus in the Backwaters

For the first time, the BJP wins a seat in Kerala. Importantly, its vote share has increased from 13 per cent in 2019 to 16 per cent in the state

- Shahina K K

KERALA, traditionally known as a ‘BJP-Mukt state’, has experienced a dramatic political shift. Suresh Gopi, former Rajya Sabha member and an actor-turned-politician made history with a decisive victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency—winning by an impressive margin of 74,686 votes—sending shock waves across the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) camps. Gopi managed to attract a considerable number of votes, even pulling support from traditional Congress loyalists, which is reflected in the party’s loss of 86,965 votes compared to the 2019 election. On the other hand, V S Sunilkumar, the Communist Party of India (CPI) leader and former LDF minister, saw an increase of 16,916 votes from the previous election. This shift has strengthened the Left’s contention that the Congress is to blame for Kerala vacating its ‘BJP Mukt’ status.

Beyond the victory in Thrissur, the BJP’s overall performance in Kerala is evident in its rising vote share. From 13 per cent in 2019 to 16 per cent, the party has made significant gains. Despite a setback in the 2021 assembly elections, where their vote share fell to 11 per cent, the BJP has managed to recover considerably. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), bolstered by a key ally, the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), now holds a combined vote share of approximately 18 per cent. The BDJS, representing the Ezhava caste—traditionally a Left stronghold—has played a crucial role in enhancing the NDA’s electoral position.