Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday expressed strong confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party will come to power in Kerala following the upcoming Assembly elections scheduled for this year. Addressing a gathering of newly elected local body representatives in New Delhi, Shah stated that the party's support base in the southern state is expanding at a steady pace.
Steady Rise in Vote Share Points to Victory
To substantiate his claim, Shah pointed to the BJP's consistent electoral performance in Kerala over the past decade. He revealed that the party's vote share climbed from 11% in 2014 to 16% in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and further increased to 20% in the 2024 general elections. "Now, the journey from 20% to 30% and 40% won’t be that long, and we will prove this in 2026," Shah asserted. He emphatically added, "This time, a BJP Chief Minister will definitely be elected in Kerala."
Growth Beyond Urban Centres and Local Body Gains
The Home Minister emphasized that the BJP's expansion in Kerala is not confined to urban areas but reflects wider public acceptance across the state. He highlighted recent successes in local body elections as evidence of this deepening reach. Shah noted that the BJP has secured control of 30 gram panchayats and two municipalities, and currently holds the mayor's position in Thiruvananthapuram. He dedicated these political gains to the relentless efforts and sacrifices of party workers, including those who faced imprisonment for their activism.
Critique of Ruling Fronts and Call for Balanced Development
Shah launched a sharp critique against both the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Congress. He accused them of over-relying on remittances sent by Keralites working abroad, while neglecting a holistic development model. "The LDF and UDF governments in Kerala are content with the money sent by Keralites working abroad," Shah said.
While appreciating the contributions of the diaspora, he questioned the state government's responsibility towards families who do not receive such foreign income. "Whose responsibility is it to bring about improvements for those millions of people?" he asked, advocating for a more balanced development approach that benefits every citizen, not just those with overseas connections.
Contrasting this with the governance in BJP- and NDA-ruled states, Shah said they had been transformed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. He urged Kerala to adopt this model and move beyond what he termed "one-dimensional" development. Shah's visit to Kerala is part of a series of political engagements and development programs ahead of the crucial state polls later this year.
