The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formally kicked off its Kerala Assembly election campaign with a high-profile visit by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Thiruvananthapuram on January 11, 2026, marking the beginning of the party’s intensified political push ahead of the polls scheduled later this year. Shah’s arrival and engagements are seen as a strategic effort to energize the party cadre, consolidate recent local election gains, and expand BJP’s footprint in the traditionally challenging political landscape of Kerala.
Shah began his day with a solemn visit to the revered Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, where he offered prayers — a symbolic act aimed at resonating with local cultural sentiments and signalling BJP’s outreach to religious and community groups across the state.
Following the temple visit, Shah met with newly elected BJP representatives from local self-government bodies, focusing on strengthening grassroots structures and preparing for the Assembly elections. His engagements included interactions with party workers and leaders designed to boost morale and sharpen organisational readiness at the booth level.
A key part of the day was Shah’s address to BJP’s local body representatives at the Kowdiar convention centre, where he emphasised the importance of systematic coordination and voter outreach. Later sessions included strategic discussions with senior leaders and a core committee meeting to deliberate candidate selection and election tactics, with special attention on high-priority constituencies identified by party strategists.
The visit also included coordination with NDA alliance partners as the party seeks to finalise seat-sharing and campaign strategies ahead of the polls. BJP’s recent performance in local body elections — particularly emerging as the single largest party in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation — has injected fresh confidence into its state leadership.
National leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are expected to visit Kerala later in the month to further bolster the campaign. The BJP’s launch event underscores its determination to challenge the incumbent fronts and attract broader support across Kerala’s diverse electorate.
News as reported
