Lok Sabha Election Results 2024: In a first, BJP gets a foothold in Kerala

BJP candidate Gopi Suresh during campaign. Pic/X

BJP for the first time has got a foothold in the bastion of UDF / LDF in Kerala, through actor Suresh Gopi, who won by a margin of over 72, 000 votes in Thrissur, defeating Sunil Kumar of CPI and K Muraleedharan of Congress.

Interestingly, Rajeev Chandrasekhar of BJP who was leading at Thiruvananthapuram, by almost over 20,000 votes initially slipped down to 17,000, then to 13000, thereafter to 5,000 plus below before losing to Congress national leader Shashi Tharoor, who won for the fourth consecutive time from Thiruvananthapuram by margin of over 11,000 votes.

M G Radhakrishnan, political observer

Interestingly, mid-day had in its article titled ‘It will be battle ground Thiruvananthapuram" dated April 26, 2024, had interviewed political observer M G Radhakrishnan, who said BJP still has a long way to go, as it has not established credibility as an alternative to LDF or the UDF in Kerala. Radhakrishnan had also claimed Tharoor will be facing the most challenging elections this time, and that has come true.

What does BJP's maiden victory mean to Kerala Politics?

Speaking to mid-day, Radhakrishnan, said, "It is a historic win for BJP and this should be looked as a warning bell for both the LDF and UDF and if they fail to deliver, then it won't be too late for the saffron party to pick up in future elections. Suresh Gopi's victory by over 72,000 plus votes was unexpected and it might be that Gopi could manage to get the upper caste Christian votes. Interestingly the entry of BJP into Kerala politics also brings to an end the bipolar political tradition in the state."

And in the case of Shashi Tharoor, the fate for him changed at the last moment. The Latin Christian votes from coastal regions have helped Tharoor in 2014 elections, wherein he scraped through the finish line by a few thousand votes. On Tuesday, Tharoor again won by a slim margin. The coastal vote bank of Tharoor seems to have played the trump card for him even this time. But the margin with which Tharoor has won, is not that huge, which gives room for BJP to deliver and fix the gaps, to win over public trust and faith.

Besides, CPM didn't get the desired support from its loyal Muslim vote bank in Kannur, Vadakara, and the northern constituency despite the party raising the din over Citizen Amendment Act (CAA), Uniform Civil Code and Triple Talaq.

When asked if BJP's penetration into Kerala also had an impact in the state politics and future state election, Radhakrishnan said, "The penetration of BJP in the state is just the tip of the iceberg."

BJP will have to walk the talk

"Gopi will need to work towards fulfilling his promises, as BJP as a party has not established credibility as an alternative to the LDF or the UDF. It hasn't positioned itself as a party which takes care of Kerala's needs. BJP has in-built structural issues like the minorities. How do you cross this thing if,
despite its Hindu majoritarianism, can the BJP help Kerala? This is something that only time will answer," said Radhakrishnan.

"The LDF has not functioned well, economic management is terrible and the Congress has been tried many times, but what has the BJP to show as an alternative? Its leadership is bankrupt in Kerala, and I don't see any potential in BJP leadership in Kerala. BJP has been in power at the centre since 2014 but hasn't done anything for Kerala. So why should Kerala trust the BJP? Kerala people are educated, and they don't see anything significant in states run by the BJP," said Radhakrishnan.

"If BJP is going to be the difference, it must show the difference. It hasn't. But now there is corruption, and there are the electoral bonds and washing machines. Anyone tainted in any party is happily welcomed into the BJP," said Radhakrishnan.

Wayanad constituency

Rahul Gandhi was expected to win from Wayanad, though his tally of votes has come down from over 4 lakh in 2019 to over 2.80 lakh this time. The Muslims and the Muslim League know that they have their only hope in Congress, said Radhakrishnan.