BJP aims to improve vote share in Kerala

NEW DELHI: After its impressive performance in Telangana, the BJP is now optimistic about increasing its vote share in Kerala where polls are being held this week. However, unlike in Telangana, the BJP central leadership has kept away from the campaign in Kerala ostensibly as the prospects of winning a sizable number of seats are less.

Along with local development issues, both Congress and BJP have slammed the Left parties on the gold smuggling case, in which people close to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan are facing the heat.

The alleged involvement of Bineesh Kodiyeri, son of a former CPM minister, has also been made an issue by the opposition.


Polling for panchayats, municipalities and six corporations in Kerala will be held on December 8, 10 and 14. BJP has pressed its state unit leaders for campaigning. BJP Kerala president K Surendran and former chief Kummanam Rajasekharan have travelled to all parts of the state while actor-politician Suresh Gopi has also canvassed for votes.

However, senior leaders like Home Minister Amit Shah and JP Nadda have kept away from the campaign.

The party has fielded several Muslim and Christian candidates in these elections.

“We expect many Muslim women will come out and vote for us due to the triple talaq law which has had a resonance among them. The plan to increase the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years has also been welcomed by many Muslim girls,” a BJP leader said.

Congress has also not fielded any of its central leaders for campaigning in Kerala’s local elections. Though former Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi is an MP from Wayanad, he has not taken part in the campaign.

Chief Minister Vijayan has also not held a single programme yet.