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Keralam Election 2026: Keralam, also known as 'God's own country', went to elections on Thursday. There was a direct fight between two fronts - the ruling LDF (Left Democratic Front) led by CPI(M) and Congress-headed UDF(United Democratic Front). The third biggest player is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been sweating to make it a triangular contest. In the past three Assembly elections in 2011, 2016 and 2021, the saffron party's score has been: 0, 1 and 0. The BJP went to the last two assembly elections under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah - the invincible pair - which has changed the landscape of Indian politics after its commencement in the national politics in 2014. Keralam has been among the few states that have not been conquered by the duo.

BJP Pitches For 'Vikasita Keralam'

The BJP president Nitin Nabin, recently, called upon the people of Keralam to choose progress over "stagnation" and ensure a "historic mandate" for the NDA in the Assembly polls. He said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has presented a "transformative vision" for a "Vikasita Keralam", focussing on world-class healthcare, high-speed rail connectivity and the empowerment of women. The party is confident of improving its tally in the southern part of the state, riding on recent success in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation.

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Here Are the primary reasons why the party was not able to make it through in Keralam:


1. Bipolar Politics: The state has been witnessing bipolar politics between the LDF and UDF for decades. There is a strong bifurcation in the polity of the state, and the room for a third player is very limited. People often ignore the BJP, thinking that it alone cannot form a government. The saffron party, historically, has no presence in the southern state, which goes against its electoral prospects.

ALSO READ: 'Match-Fixing Between LDF And Congress': Nitin Nabin Says BJP To Emerge As An 'Alternative' In Keralam

2. Rejection Of Hindutva Politics: Hindutva wave swept through the nation, but not in Keralam. The southern state is a highly literate state (around 95%), and it often ignores emotive issues, rather goes for development-related agendas. Hindu, Christian, and Muslim communities have coexisted peacefully for centuries. Unlike northern states, the communal politics is minimal in the state. BJP's Hindutva agenda struggles here because of its strong secular fabric, credited to the long rule of UDF and LDF.

3. Minority vote: The current leadership of the party failed to woo the Minorities - Christians and Muslims - in the state. Christian (18%) and Muslim (27%) traditionally don't impress with the BJP's Hindutva or nationalism ideology.

ALSO READ: Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: Full Candidates List Of UDF, LDF And NDA In All 140 Constituencies

4. Lack Of Strong Local Leadership: The BJP has strengthened its presence in the last couple of years in Keralam, yet it lacks a strong local leadership. Except for the BJP Keralam chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar, there is no popular local leader in the state. The party's organisational structure is supported by the RSS, but that is not enough for a secular state like Kerala.

5. Keralam's Own Development Model: The state has its own unique development model, which focuses on education and social welfare, highly accepted by the people. People often ignore the BJP's development model. Keralam has a high Human Development Index, a good healthcare and education system, and a migrant economy. That is the reason why people don't need any alternate model, such as "Gujarat Model" or "Double Engine Government".


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