The Perception of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kerala

As one of India's southern states, Kerala has a unique political landscape. The recent dynamics in the state have shown a significant shift in public opinion towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). This article explores the general opinion of people in Kerala towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, their knowledge about him and his policies.

Shift in Public Opinion

The political landscape in Kerala has historically been dominated by regional and national parties like the Indian National Congress (INC) and various Left parties. However, the NDA has been making steady inroads into the state. This shift is largely due to the formation of the BJP-led NDA Kerala unit in 2016, which comprises the BJP, Bharatiya Janata Party, Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), and a variety of other smaller parties. The political strategy of NDA has been to form a strong grassroots organization and win over the hearts and minds of the people at the local level.

Electoral Performance of BJP in Kerala

Since 2016, the BJP has been trying to establish a stronghold in Kerala. While the party could only secure a single assembly seat for party veteran O. Rajagopal in 2016, it managed to challenge and almost beat Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat in both 2014 and 2019. Through strategic alliances and effective campaigning, the NDA's vote share in Kerala has nearly doubled over the last decade, from around 11% to nearly 15%.

In 2024, the BJP has set its sights on emerging as a dominant political force in five key seats: Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram Attingal, Palakkad, and Pathanamthitta. These areas have shown a higher inclination towards the BJP, with more than 20% of the votes polled in previous elections.

Strategic Approach for Upcoming Elections

For the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the subsequent 2026 assembly elections, the BJP has classified Kerala into three categories based on its performance in 2019 general elections and 2021 state assembly polls. The second category comprises nine seats, including Kollam, Mavelikara, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Chalakudy, Ponnani, Kozhikode, and Kasargod, where NDA candidates received over 100,000 votes each.

Recognizing the potential of sports and film personalities, the BJP is also leveraging these icons to reinforce its organizational structure in Kerala. In July 2022, it nominated P.T. Usha to the Rajya Sabha, and the popular actor Suresh Gopi was nominated to the Upper House. Both are actively involved in the political landscape of Thrissur, a move that is strategically positioning Kerala as a key stronghold for the BJP in upcoming elections.

Conclusion

While the overall public perception of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his policies in Kerala has shown a positive trajectory, significant challenges remain. The BJP-led NDA has made substantial progress but still has a long road ahead to consolidate its position in the state. As Kerala prepares for the upcoming elections, the performance of these strategies will be crucial in determining the future of the BJP's political course in the region.