By Bharatiya Janata Party national president Nitin Nabin on Friday delivered one of the party’s strongest political pitches yet in Kerala, declaring that the State was heading towards a decisive shift and that the BJP was preparing to emerge as a serious contender in the next Assembly election. Addressing booth-level workers from Ernakulam and Alappuzha districts at Angamaly, Nabin framed the contest as a fight not just for power, but for cultural identity, governance reform and political clarity.
In a speech marked by sharp attacks on both the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), the BJP chief accused Kerala’s dominant political formations of eroding public trust while leaving space for what he described as extremist and appeasement-driven politics. He told party workers that the BJP’s growing organisational base and rising vote share signalled a turning point for the State.
Twin Attack on LDF and UDF
Nabin accused the Left-led government of corruption and alleged that it had failed to protect religious institutions and traditions. Referring to controversies surrounding temple administration and faith-related events, he claimed that even practices such as Ramayana recitals were being obstructed, a charge the LDF has consistently denied in the past.
He also targeted the Congress-led UDF, alleging that it had entered into opportunistic political arrangements with organisations such as the Indian Union Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami. According to Nabin, such alliances reflected a politics of convenience that ignored broader social harmony. He alleged that both fronts were working against what he termed Sanatan Dharma, positioning the BJP as the sole alternative rooted in cultural and national values.
Security Narrative and PFI Allegations
Raising concerns over internal security, Nabin claimed that Kerala had once become a major operational base for the Popular Front of India (PFI), alleging that the organisation had built a vast network of offices and activists in the State. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for banning the outfit in 2022, describing the move as decisive action against what he called a nationwide terror network.
The BJP president also promised accountability in cases linked to the alleged gold theft controversy at Sabarimala, stating that those responsible would face punishment when the party comes to power. The remarks were received with loud applause from party cadres, many of whom have long accused successive State governments of shielding influential individuals in sensitive cases.
Electoral Growth and Organisational Confidence
Highlighting the BJP’s gradual electoral rise in Kerala, Nabin pointed to the party’s vote share touching nearly 20 percent in recent elections. He cited the BJP’s success in breaking the Left’s decades-long control of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation as evidence that political equations in the State were shifting.
Drawing parallels with other regions, Nabin recalled how the BJP had dismantled long-standing Left rule in Tripura and expanded its footprint across the Northeast under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He said similar perseverance by party workers in Kerala would yield results, asserting that “the struggle will not go in vain.”
Long-Term Vision for Kerala
Reflecting on the BJP’s national journey from a marginal presence to the country’s largest political force, Nabin told workers that organisational discipline and ideological clarity had driven the party’s expansion. He predicted that Kerala, too, would eventually see a bipolar contest where the BJP and NDA emerge as the primary political force.
BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar was present at the event, lending weight to the party’s renewed push in the southern State. Earlier in the day, Nabin was received by party leaders at Kochi airport, underscoring the significance the BJP is placing on Kerala in its national strategy.
As Assembly elections approach, Nabin’s remarks signal an intensified campaign aimed at consolidating the BJP’s core support while attempting to widen its appeal in a State long resistant to the party’s electoral ambitions.
