BJP has created history in Kerala. On Friday (December 26), BJP leader VV Rajesh took oath as the Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram, creating a stir in the state’s politics. This victory of BJP is a sign of a major change in the political environment of this southern state. In his first speech after assuming office, he said that he will move forward taking everyone along. BJP Mayor VV Rajesh said that development works will be implemented in all 101 wards of Thiruvananthapuram and the city will be transformed into a developed metropolis. VV Rajesh has become the Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram at a time when less than six months are left for the state assembly elections.
How many BJP leaders are there in Kerala?
BJP has been struggling in Kerala for years, but till now it had failed to penetrate this impenetrable fortress of the Left. The party has so far had only one MLA in Kerala, O Rajagopal, who won the Nemom seat in 2016. The state also has one BJP MP, actor Suresh Gopi, who won the Thrissur seat in 2024.
A tough challenge for CPI(M)
It is worth noting that in the voting held this morning, the BJP candidate got 51 votes, which is one more than the majority in the 100-member assembly. CPI(M)’s RP Shivaji got 29 votes and Congress-led UDF’s KS Sabarinathan got 19 votes. One councilor did not participate in the voting. This victory of BJP was possible with the support of another independent councilor P Radhakrishnan.
Rajesh becoming mayor is a new chapter for BJP in urban politics of Kerala. BJP’s victory in the Kerala capital has ended CPI(M)’s 45-year-old control over the city’s municipal corporation. After the function, Kerala BJP chief Rajiv Chandrasekhar told reporters that CPI(M) had ruined Thiruvananthapuram with the indirect or behind-the-scenes support of the Congress.
