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A day after overhauling the Kerala state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) committee, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that they would be forming the government after the 2026 Assembly elections.
Speaking after the inauguration of the newly built party committee office in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, July 12, Shah addressed a massive public rally at Putharikandam Maidan. “The time has come to end the dominance of LDF (Left Democratic Front) and UDF (United Democratic Front) in Kerala. I thank the people of the state, as our vote share has risen from 11% to 20%. This is the foundation for a BJP-led government in 2026.”
He said the BJP would contest all 21,000 seats in the upcoming local body elections and urged voters to increase the party's vote share to 25%. “We are no longer an emerging force. We now have a presence in all 21,000 wards across the state,” he said.
He sharply criticised both the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF, accusing them of corruption and stagnation. He said, “Kerala is a hub of communalism. While Prime Minister Modi banned the PFI, the state government has allowed it to stay active. If you want change, end the rule of both UDF and LDF.”
He drew a comparison between the CPI(M) and the BJP, stating, “Both are cadre-based parties, but the CPI(M) focuses on personal gain while the BJP stands for progress.”
Calling the new party office “a temple” and a “symbol of growth,” Shah said the BJP is expanding its footprint in Kerala. “Workers are our strength, and without them, there is no BJP. We are committed not just to winning seats but to realising the vision of a developed Kerala,” he said.
The seven-storey building, Mararji Bhavan, has been named after former state BJP chief KG Marar. The swanky new headquarters includes 13 suite rooms and is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. It also houses the office of the newly appointed Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
Shah’s speech comes just a day after the BJP in Kerala underwent a major organisational overhaul under Rajeev Chandrasekhar. The restructured state committee, a blend of experience and youth, aims to boost the party’s standing ahead of the crucial local body elections.
(With IANS inputs)