‘Lotus govt our ultimate goal’: Amit Shah launches BJP Kerala poll campaign; visits Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Amit Shah on Sunday urged BJP workers in Kerala to dream of installing the party’s first Chief Minister in the state, striking an upbeat note in Thiruvananthapuram despite the BJP falling well short of the electoral benchmark he had set ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Addressing newly elected BJP and NDA representatives at a convention centre in Kowdiar, Shah sought to rally party cadres even as the results of the 2025 local body elections exposed the steep climb facing the party.
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UNION Home Minister Amit Shah declared on Sunday that the Bharatiya Janata Party's ultimate goal in Kerala is to form a government under the lotus symbol.
Addressing newly elected local body representatives, Shah hailed the BJP's recent Thiruvananthapuram local polls victory as a crucial stepping stone toward that objective.
"This victory is not our goal, but a stepping stone towards achieving our goal. Our ultimate goal is to form a government in Kerala under the lotus symbol and bring a BJP Chief Minister. Our goal is to make Kerala fully developed and to protect Kerala from anti-national forces, to protect the power of faith that has existed in Kerala for centuries," Shah said, quotes ANI.
"The people of Kerala also believe that the United Democratic Front and Left Democratic Front cannot accomplish these three tasks; only the NDA, led by Narendra Modi, can do so. Narendra Modi has envisioned making this country a developed India by 2047. I have come here today to tell the people of Kerala that the path to a developed India goes through a developed Kerala," he added.
Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on the CPI(M) led LDF and Congress led UDF, accusing their covert "match-fixing" of blocking Kerala's development.
He asserted that Kerala's development, security, and protection of beliefs can only be achieved under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's NDA government.
"The match-fixing between the LDF and UDF has stalled this state with its immense potential, and our Kerala is experiencing a strange kind of stagnation. But I have come to this workers' conference to appeal to the people of Kerala: the path to Kerala's future, whether it be development, security, or the protection of our beliefs, cannot be achieved through the LDF or the UDF," Shah said.
"Communist parties have disappeared all over the world, and the Congress party is fading away throughout our country. Now, the path to Kerala's development lies only with Narendra Modi's NDA. What is needed is to approach the people of Kerala with humility and a clear vision," he said.
In December last year, the BJP-led NDA scripted history by seizing control of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, ousting LDF's four-decade dominance with 50 of 101 wards, LDF got 29, UDF 19, and independents two.
The victory destroyed UDF-Left vote banks, building on the BJP's 2025 Lok Sabha win, when the BJP’s Suresh Gopi won the Thrissur seat.
While recent Grama Panchayat results showed UDF leading 505 of 941, LDF at 340, NDA 26, AAP three (Beena Kurian in Karimkunnam Ward 13, Sini Antony in Mullenkolly Ward 16, Smitha Luke in Uzhavoor Ward 4).
The News Minute adds: Amit Shah on Sunday offered prayers at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram and said his visit was a thanksgiving for the BJP securing its mayoral post in the Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation.
Shah, who arrived in the state capital on Saturday night for a one-day visit, reached the temple this morning along with BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and district president Karamana Jayan.
Clad in a traditional dhoti and kasavu (silk) shawl, Shah was received at the shrine by temple authorities and Travancore royal family member Aditya Varma.
After the visit, temple authorities presented him with gifts, including the 'onavillu', a ceremonial painted bow dedicated to Lord Sree Padmanabha.
Restrictions were imposed at the temple and its premises during the union minister’s visit, and heavy security was deployed.
Shah’s visit to the centuries-old shrine comes ahead of the 'Lakshadeepam' ritual on January 14, an auspicious ceremony held at the temple once every six years, during which thousands of oil lamps are lit.
Later in the day, while addressing newly elected BJP councillors, Shah said he had come to Kerala to offer thanksgiving at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, fulfilling his promise to return if the party succeeded in securing the mayoral post in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.
