The BJP is betting big on the Kerala Assembly elections. Heavyweights of the State Party unit are in the fray. In the past senior leaders stayed away in the previous assembly polls. The BJP is a challenger to the Congress –led UDF and the CPH-led LDF. The BJP has never won an assembly or Parliamentary seat. It has been one of the two fronts which came out successful. The BJP’s bid in the assembly poll is a results of its performance in the 2014 general election. It bagged 11% votes, riding the NarendraModivave. its bright showing in the Thiruvananthpuram Parliamentary constituency has given it a new impetus. All eyes are on O. Rajagopal.
In the local bodies elections, it beat the Congress to be second to the Left in Thiruvananthpuram Municipal Corporation. The Party has also joined up with the newly formed Bharat Dharma Jana Sena, representing the Ezhava community. The BJDS, a coalition of various caste bodies is against both the alliances – the UDF and the LDF. The BJP- BDJS front stands for Hindu interests. The UDF and the LDF are accused of pampering religious minorities, quite large in Kerala.
The fate of the BJP in Kerala hangs in the balance. Assembly elections in the state differ from parliamentary elections. The BJP’s vote share remained 5% in the last three assembly elections. Will it go up significantly this time?