Thiruvananthapuram: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has declared that the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) "ultimate goal" in Kerala is to form a government and install a BJP Chief Minister. Speaking at a gathering of newly-elected local body representatives in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, January 11, 2026, Shah described the party's recent victory in the Thiruvananthapuram local body elections as a crucial stepping stone towards achieving this ambition.
Shah emphasized that the BJP's victory in Thiruvananthapuram, where the party won 50 wards and ended the Left Democratic Front's (LDF) 45-year rule, should be viewed as a foundation for future growth, not the final objective. He outlined a broader mission for the BJP in Kerala: to ensure the state's overall development, protect its cultural and religious traditions, and combat what he termed "anti-national forces". Shah asserted that only the BJP could effectively undertake this task.
Taking aim at both the ruling LDF and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), Shah accused the two alliances of engaging in "match-fixing" that has stalled Kerala's progress and resulted in stagnation. He argued that these fronts have repeatedly rescued each other for political expediency, hindering the state's potential. Shah also claimed that Communist parties are losing influence worldwide, and the Congress party is steadily declining across India.
Shah linked Kerala's future to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India by 2047, asserting that national progress depends on the development of states like Kerala. He promised a comprehensive development program that would benefit every citizen, moving beyond a remittance-based economy. Shah criticized both the LDF and UDF for allegedly supporting organizations like the Popular Front, SDPI, and Jamaat-e-Islami for vote-bank politics, arguing that such appeasement policies cannot ensure Kerala's security.
Highlighting the BJP's growing presence in Kerala, Shah pointed to the party's success in retaining Palakkad and wresting Thrippunithura from the UDF in the local body polls. He also recalled Suresh Gopi's victory in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency in the previous elections. Shah expressed confidence that the BJP's vote share, which has increased from 11% in 2014 to 20% in 2024, would continue to rise, paving the way for a BJP government in Kerala. He drew parallels to the BJP's growth nationally, from two Lok Sabha seats in 1984 to its current position leading the government for a third consecutive term.
Shah announced a three-point agenda for the BJP's campaign in Kerala: a developed Kerala, a safe Kerala, and protection of faith. He demanded a neutral agency investigation into the alleged theft of gold artifacts at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, signaling that this issue would be a key focus of the campaign. Shah asserted that the BJP would continue protests until the state government hands over the investigation.
BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated that the LDF would no longer be an option for the people in the upcoming Assembly elections, predicting a contest between the NDA and the UDF.
