BJP Breaks Through in Kerala with Three Seats
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved a historic milestone in the recent Kerala assembly elections by winning three seats. Party leaders highlighted the symbolic nature of this achievement, noting that it matched the number of seats the BJP had secured in West Bengal in 2016. This victory is seen as an endorsement of state party president Rajeev Chandrasekhar's strategy to prioritize development over traditional saffron politics that typically garners votes elsewhere in India.
Strategic Shift in Campaigning
Kerala's unique demographic composition has often been cited as a barrier to BJP's electoral success, despite the party securing a significant vote share. When Chandrasekhar took over from K Surendran, he emphasized a focus on development rather than divisive politics. Many within the party were skeptical, but a detailed analysis of his campaign reveals a deliberate effort to downplay Sangh Parivar rhetoric. This approach appears to have resonated with urban voters in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts, areas that have been neglected by successive governments.
The three constituencies won by the BJP—Nemom, Kazhakkoottam (both in Thiruvananthapuram), and Chathannur (in Kollam)—are predominantly urban. Chandrasekhar announced his candidacy shortly after the BJP's victory in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation election. His strong performance in the Nemom assembly segment during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where he contested against Shashi Tharoor, likely influenced his decision to contest there. He defeated incumbent V Sivankutty, who had won the seat from the BJP in 2021.
Groundwork Over Rabble-Rousing
V Muraleedharan's victory in a closely contested race was not unexpected. The former Union minister had been actively engaging with constituents through meticulous grassroots activities for years. Similarly, wins in Nemom and Chathannur—where BJP had previously finished second—demonstrate that meticulous groundwork, not inflammatory campaigns, is key to winning seats in Kerala. Unlike the 2021 elections, where many BJP candidates prominently displayed saffron colors and Sangh Parivar symbols, such displays were notably absent in these constituencies.
BJP state general secretary Anoop Antony's strong second-place finish in Thiruvalla, securing over 43,000 votes, is encouraging for the party as it seeks to win over Christian voters. The elections also raised hopes for the BJP in Kozhikode North and South, where candidates achieved nearly 40,000 votes for the first time. This follows the party's impressive performance in the Kozhikode corporation elections, where it won 13 seats. However, the BJP fell short in Palakkad, where Sobha Surendran lost by 13,000 votes, and in Vattiyoorkavu, a traditional stronghold, where former DGP R Sreelekha finished third in a three-cornered contest.
For comprehensive coverage of the 2026 election results, including live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, and party-wise trends for Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, follow Times of India. Check gold rates, silver rates, bank holidays, and public holidays in Kochi. The author, B S Anilkumar, is a journalist with over two decades of experience in news reporting, political analysis, and newsroom management, specializing in politics, education, and power sectors.
