Despite years of dedicated effort, the BJP struggled to gain a significant foothold in Kerala until the 2024 Lok Sabha election in Thrissur. Through persistence, outreach, grassroots activism, and effective image-building for candidate Suresh Gopi, the BJP finally achieved a breakthrough in Kerala.
When Suresh Gopi, the BJP's candidate for Kerala's Thrissur constituency, boldly declared that Prime Minister Modi's support would secure a Union minister from Thrissur, many political analysts in Kerala and beyond were skeptical.
Suresh Gopi's claim that he would "take Thrissur" was met with widespread skepticism and relentless trolling. His ambitions seemed far-fetched in Kerala, a traditional Left stronghold where the Congress and the Left have alternated in forming the government.
However, the situation changed dramatically in a few months.
Suresh Gopi is now the BJP's first and only Lok Sabha MP from Kerala and has been inducted into Modi's Union ministry.
The critics and trolls have been silenced.
Actor-politician Suresh Gopi defeated the Communist Party of India's V. S. Sunil Kumar by a margin of 74,000 votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. He broke through the Left's stronghold and made history by becoming the first BJP Lok Sabha MP from the southern state.
His success wasn't just due to his movie stardom but resulted from years of persistence, grassroots efforts in and around Thrissur, and a combination of other factors.
His success also provides a blueprint for the BJP in Kerala, a state the saffron party had struggled to penetrate despite years of effort.
### Suresh Gopi Became 'Modi's Man in Kerala'
The first step towards success for Suresh Gopi, who had lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Thrissur and the 2021 Assembly election, was rebranding himself.
The BJP's central leadership played a crucial role in this image makeover.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally selected Gopi for the Thrissur constituency and ensured a high-profile campaign. PM Modi held a roadshow in Thrissur and even attended Gopi's daughter's wedding ceremony at the revered Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple before the elections.
The direct involvement of the Prime Minister positioned Suresh Gopi as 'Modi's Man in Kerala,' making him the face of the efficient delivery of Central schemes.
Gopi had previously revealed how Narendra Modi, then the Gujarat CM, had selected him for the Party's Kerala vision as far back as 2014.
### JBP's Christian Outreach in Kerala Pays Off
Gopi also extensively reached out to the Christian community, which constitutes around 20% of Kerala's and Thrissur's electorate.
Gopi's efforts to engage Christian voters were part of the BJP's broader outreach to the community in Kerala, which has the highest Christian population in India.
Christians, traditionally Congress voters, have become a focus for the BJP, which is keen to make inroads in Kerala.
The BJP has been working tirelessly to woo Christian voters in Kerala.
In April last year, Anil K. Antony, son of veteran Christian Congress leader A. K. Antony, joined the BJP.
In January this year, Kerala Janapaksham (Secular) chief P. C. George merged his party with the BJP, further boosting the saffron party's Christian outreach.
Close to the Lok Sabha election, Suresh Gopi offered a golden crown to the statue of Saint Mary at the famous Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral in Thrissur. The Christian voters, in turn, helped him secure the Thrissur MP seat.
### Suresh Gopi's Ground-Level Activism on Local Issues
Gopi, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election for the same seat, engaged early on in local issues and charitable activities, which resonated with the masses.
Instead of seeking a safe and rewarding seat, Gopi remained committed to Thrissur. He stayed there despite losing the 2021 Kerala Vidhan Sabha election.
He continued working on the ground. A Rajya Sabha member since 2016, Gopi utilized the MPLADS funds for the region.
His popular dialogue, 'Thrissur njan dukkha, enikku venom Thrissur (I am taking Thrissur, I want Thrissur),' became a rallying cry for his Lok Sabha campaign.
Gopi's campaign also capitalized on the alleged cooperative bank scam, supposedly orchestrated by local CPI(M) leaders. He led an 18-kilometer padayatra to generate public opinion against the scam, which helped galvanize support among the people of Thrissur.
Accompanied by hundreds of party workers, Gopi paid tribute to the victims of suicides resulting from the alleged corruption and money laundering at the Karuvannur Service Co-operative Bank.
### Gopi's Secular, Pro-Poor Image Helped in Leftist Kerala
Gopi, a popular film star known for playing cops in movies, found a place as a champion of the people's interests.
Another factor that worked in Suresh Gopi's favor was his secular image.
Kerala's demography, with 30% Muslims and 20% Christians, has been a challenge for the saffron party's growth in the state. Gopi never shied away from attending religious and cultural programs organized by various communities.
Gopi's image as a hands-on, proactive helper likely worked in his favor, irrespective of his political affiliation with the BJP, in a state like Kerala.
"Suresh Gopi is a genuine person who likes to help the poor and the needy. His victory is a return gift from God for this work," said Salim Kumar, a National Award-winning Malayalam cinema actor.
However, "While I don’t subscribe to his political ideology, I like him as a person," added Salim.
In Leftist Kerala, his pro-poor, secular image attracted voters.
Gopi, even in his messaging, maintained his secular outlook.
"Thank you to the real secular voters of Thrissur," is how Gopi thanked the people in the constituency following his win.
"Attempts were made to mislead the voters, but God led them on the correct path to accept my party through me ...even if some of you feel that this is a miracle, this miracle was imminent... The victory is due to people's blessings. I bow down to the truly secular voters of Thrissur who made this victory possible," the actor added on the results' day.
Whether Gopi's victory in Thrissur will have a ripple effect on Assembly constituencies and local bodies across the state remains to be seen. That said, Gopi's victory in Thrissur coincides with the BJP's increased vote share in Kerala, from 10% in 2014 to 19.39% in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
Something appears to be working for the BJP in Kerala, where the party has been eyeing a breakthrough for years.
Kerala's 140-member Assembly will go to polls in 2026. This will confirm the party's inroads into the last Leftist bastion. For now, in Suresh Gopi's Thrissur victory, the BJP seems to have cracked the Kerala code.
