Modi sent a clear statement of his faith in the state’s citizens during his roadshow in Kochi by walking without fear in the face of the security concerns he faced. It is important to discuss what his presence implies for Kerala’s political economy as the BJP gears up for the national elections in 2024.
Source: Times of India
Christians make up roughly 18 percent and Muslims make up about 26 percent of Kerala’s 33.4 million people. Both have historically backed the United Democratic Front (UDF), which is led by the Congress and has as allies the Kerala Congress (M) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
The BJP’s attempts to enter Kerala politics have also been successful, as seen by the increase in its vote totals and the support it has garnered from influential church leaders. The resignation of Johnny Nellore, vice-chairman of the Kerala Congress, and his declaration that a new political organisation would be founded with support from the Church, which is supposedly supported by the BJP, are both noteworthy developments in this context.
Many more Kerala Congress leaders are reportedly planning to join the new party, according to speculations. Kerala Congress (M) in the LDF is also battling for its existence at the same time.
Modi chose to visit the Sacred Heart College in order to influence the students as well as to portray the BJP as a party that accepts Christians and cares about the community. Kerala has seen a continuous trend of young people leaving the country in recent years. They give as reasons for leaving the state a lack of chances that align with their objectives and the poor quality of higher education.
Source: CNN- News18
The presence of Modi has made some noise. But the BJP still has a long way to go before it can gain electoral ground. Kerala is a complex society with political narratives built on socialism and intergroup peace, but there are also significant undercurrents and cracks in the community. The BJP must fundamentally revise its tactics for Kerala in light of the altered notion of wealth creation and a sizable, well-connected internet community on a global scale.
A middle-class Keralite voter could be conceited and egotistical, aspirational in their view of the world, and hypocritical in their negotiating position. Therefore, the BJP’s challenge would be to differentiate itself from the other political parties in Kerala by adopting an approach and narrative of the political economy that would portray it as an urban middle-class party with a middle-class liberal agenda on the table.
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