Amit Shah lays out BJP’s Kerala game plan, 3-point agenda: A look at ‘Mission Keralam’

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the BJP’s growing support base in Kerala signalled that the NDA would form a government after the Assembly elections set to take place later this year.

Addressing newly elected members of civic bodies in Kerala, Shah said the party’s victories in the recent local body elections were a stepping stone towards achieving its goal of forming a government in Kerala.

“Today, the BJP has a mayor in Thiruvananthapuram. Tomorrow, there will be a BJP chief minister in Kerala. Our victory was a result of the sacrifice of hundreds of party workers. I dedicate this win to the families of the hundreds of balidani (martyrs) as well as workers who are in jail,” he said.

Recalling the BJP’s increase in vote share in recent elections, Shah said, “From 11% in 2014, our vote share increased to 16% in 2019 and to 20% in 2024.

“Vote share increasing to 30% or 40% is not far away. That will happen in 2026 itself,” he said.

He pointed out that the BJP’s growth was not limited to urban areas alone, as the party won 30 village panchayats and finished second in 79, as well as winning two municipalities in the local body elections.

Shah also unveiled the BJP’s three-point election agenda, “Mission Keralam-2026”, which focuses on “Vikasit Kerala, safe Kerala and protection of faith”.

Referring to the alleged gold theft from the Sabarimala temple, Shah said neither the ruling LDF nor the Opposition UDF can “protect faith”.

“If anyone can protect faith in Kerala, only the BJP can,” he said.

He also said that the gold theft was not just an issue for Kerala, but a matter that has hurt the faith of the entire nation. He asked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan whether the latter was ready to hand over the Sabarimala probe to an impartial agency

“I have seen the FIRs, and it has clauses meant to protect two ministers. UDF leaders were also seen along with the accused in photographs… The BJP will launch a massive protest seeking an impartial probe. Vijayan will have to order an impartial probe after the BJP’s agitation. I want to tell Pinarayi Vijayan, ‘you cannot ensure protection of faith in Kerala. It is time to go out. You cannot come back,’” Shah said.

He said development in Kerala has come to a standstill due to the “match-fixing” between the LDF and the UDF. “Our goal is to make Kerala fully developed and safeguard the state from anti-national forces and protect the faith. Communist parties have disappeared everywhere in the world, and the Congress regime has ended in India. Only the BJP, led by Narendra Modi, can take Kerala towards the road to development. Both LDF and UDF have been following appeasement policy, whereas the BJP’s stance is to ensure justice for all,” he said.

Shah also attended the BJP’s core committee meeting, which discussed the party’s preparedness for the Assembly elections.