Kerala BJP chief: ‘Local body, Assembly polls next target … NDA has around 20% vote share, a crucial stage in our growth’

“As per Lok Sabha voting trends, the BJP led in 11 Assembly segments and finished second in nine others. NDA bagged 35,000-odd votes in several other Assembly segments,” says K Surendran

BJP Kerala chief K Surendran. (Photo: K Surendran/ X)

The BJP last week registered its best-ever parliamentary election result in Kerala, winning its first-ever Lok Sabha seat in the state, with actor Suresh Gopi, the winner from Thrissur, rewarded with a place in the Union Council of Ministers of the new Modi-led government. The party also increased its vote share from 13% to 16.68%. State BJP president K Surendran speaks about the party’s performance and the road ahead. Excerpts:

What is your assessment of the poll outcome in Kerala?

Our best-ever performance in the state went along expected lines. The “Modi Guarantee” worked. We dedicate our performance to the PM. We have garnered votes from all sections of people. While the vote shares of both the Congress-led UDF (United Democratic Front) and the CPI(M)-led LDF (Left Democratic Front) fell, the NDA managed to increase its vote share. Hindu backward communities and SC-STs, which are traditionally the CPI(M)’s vote bank, largely polled for the BJP as is evident in the Attingal and Alappuzha seats.

What helped the BJP win Thrissur?

Mainly three factors: Even after losing the 2019 elections, Suresh Gopi continued to work among the people of Thrissur and intervened in their issues for the last five years. His charisma as a star and strong booth management are the other factors. We had a lot of outreach programmes among women and youths.

Story continues below this ad

What lessons has the BJP learnt from this victory?

Effective booth management and nurturing of constituencies. We had the same strategy in other seats but it was more effective in Thrissur. In Attingal, the party made strong strides, which nobody predicted. In Thiruvananthapuram, where the party came second, there was a polarisation against the BJP in the coastal belts.

BJP Kerala chief K Surendran felicitating newly elected Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi. (Photo: K Surendran/ X)

Will this victory boost your chances in Kerala?

Yes, that is a significant feature of this outcome. Until 2019, nobody took the BJP seriously in Attingal, a Left stronghold. Pathanamthitta, another seat where the BJP now has a strong vote base, also came up after 2019. This year, the BJP votes shot up in Alappuzha. In all three seats, we are now strong and have positive prospects. The NDA in Kerala has reached around 20% vote share — a crucial stage in our growth. The journey ahead will be smoother and faster.

Don't miss | Another milestone for Suresh Gopi: Kerala’s first BJP MP in cast of ministers

What will be the BJP’s next course of action in Kerala?

We are planning to work in constituencies the way Gopi did in Thrissur. Now that the new government has assumed office in Delhi, our state committee will meet and chalk out the strategy. Our next target are the local body elections of 2025 and the Assembly elections of 2026. As per the Lok Sabha voting trends, the BJP led in 11 Assembly segments and finished second in nine others. Besides, the NDA bagged 35,000-odd votes in several other Assembly segments.

Did your Christian outreach, a pre-election highlight, yield results?

We got a chunk of Christian votes in Thrissur, Pathanamthitta, and Attingal. But it did not happen along expected lines across the state.

H-1B $100,000 entry fee explained: Who pays, who’s exempt, and what’s still unclear?

Explained2 hr ago

The White House's decision to impose a $100,000 entry fee on H-1B visa holders has sparked worry among Indian tech workers and students. While uncertainties remain about its implementation and exemptions, major tech companies have cautioned employees against traveling. The policy could lead to a shift towards other visa categories and potentially change the STEM immigration pipeline.

View all shorts

Live Blog