Will HM Shah Inaugurate the New BJP Headquarters in Kerala?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Amit Shah to inaugurate new BJP headquarters in Kerala.
- Over 40,000 party workers are expected to attend.
- Shah's visit is strategically timed before local elections.
- BJP aims to strengthen its position in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
- Previous electoral challenges faced by the BJP in Kerala.
Thiruvananthapuram, July 11 (NationPress) Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit the capital of Kerala on Friday for a two-day event, where he will officially open the new state headquarters for the BJP.
Shah is anticipated to arrive in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday evening via a special flight. The following day, he will inaugurate the newly built BJP state office and then address party members at a key location in the city center. The gathering will also feature a community lunch for those present.
After the public address, Shah is likely to travel to Kannur to offer prayers at the renowned Thaliparamba Rajarajeswari Temple around 4 p.m., before returning to Delhi later that day.
Shah’s trip is strategically timed with local body elections approaching. The BJP is expecting over 40,000 party members to attend, particularly from southern districts.
The party aims to strengthen its position in the upcoming elections, especially in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, where it currently functions as the main opposition. The CPI(M)-led Left Front governs, while the Congress-led UDF comes in third.
Historically, the BJP has found electoral success elusive in Kerala. It lost its single Assembly seat in the 2021 elections, which it had first won in 2016. However, it achieved a notable success in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi surprised everyone with a victory in Thrissur, pushing the Congress to third place.
The BJP regards the 2025 local body elections as a vital opportunity to enhance its vote share and increase its seat count in the state.
In the 2020 local body elections, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) garnered 40.18% of the vote, followed by the United Democratic Front (UDF) with 37.92%, and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with 15.02%.
Kerala comprises 23,612 wards across its local self-governance institutions, which include Grama Panchayats, Block Panchayats, District Panchayats, Municipalities, and Corporations.
In 2020, out of 941 Grama Panchayats, LDF won 514, UDF 321, NDA 19, and others 23. Among 152 Block Panchayats, LDF secured 108 and UDF 38.
In 14 District Panchayats, LDF claimed 11 and UDF 3. Out of 87 Municipalities, LDF triumphed in 43, UDF in 41, and NDA in 2. In 6 Corporations, LDF dominates 5, with UDF holding 1.