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People of Kerala ‘ready for new dawn’: PM Modi in letter to first BJP mayor of Thiruvananthapuram

‘Our vision to build a Viksit Thiruvananthapuram has resonated with the people across the city, from all sections of society’: PM

2 min readThiruvananthapuramUpdated: Jan 1, 2026 10:32 PM IST

In the letter, Modi said, “Our vision to build a Viksit Thiruvananthapuram has resonated with the people across the city, from all sections of society.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a letter to BJP’s first-ever mayor in Kerala, V V Rajesh, said the success of the party in Thiruvananthapuram local body elections signals that people of the state, especially the youngsters and the women, are ready for a new dawn.

The BJP won the Thiruvananthapuram corporation polls last month, ending the CPI(M)’s 45-year-long uninterrupted rule. Rajesh, a BJP state secretary, assumed office last week.

In his letter to the BJP mayor, Modi said the BJP-led NDA is emerging as people’s option, rooted in nationalism without exclusion, development without corruption and governance without appeasement. Kerala wants to break free from broken promises of the LDF and the UDF, the PM said.

In the letter, Modi said, “Our vision to build a Viksit Thiruvananthapuram has resonated with the people across the city, from all sections of society. People have seen the work of our government at the Centre and also our efforts towards urban development in various states, which is why they have decided to bless us. It is a milestone written in golden letters.”

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Modi said for decades, BJP workers in Kerala walked a path that was difficult. The state’s politics has been dominated by the LDF and the UDF, whose poor governance record is for everyone to see. These fronts have perpetuated a culture of violence and brutality which is against the ethos of Kerala. Despite adversity, hostility and brutal violence, our karyakartas have stood firm, the PM said.

In the 101-strong Thiruvananthapuram corporation council, the BJP has 50 members, while the Congress-CPI(M) combine has 49. THe BJP also got the support of an Independent councilor, while election to another seat will be held later. Development has been the major plank of the BJP during the elections in the state capital corporation. The state BJP has promised that if voted to power at the corporation, it will bring PM Modi within 45 days of the result announcement and get big-ticket projects for the state capital.

Shaju Philip

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More

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