- Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Despite making sincere efforts since the 1980s, the saffron party has not been able to make much electoral progress in the southern state.
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (16) emphasised his Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) significant focus on the opposition-dominated Kerala in the upcoming general elections by conducting a massive roadshow in the southern state’s port city of Kochi, marking the second such event in a part of India where the saffron party has had no success in the previous polls.
Thousands of BJP workers and local residents lined both sides of a road measuring 1.3 kilometres to welcome Modi, who reached the state for a two-day visit for private, public, and party events. On Wednesday (17), he will visit the state’s Thrissur district where educational institutions will remain closed on the day.
Modi will visit two major temples in Thrissur district, including Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple and Triprayar Sree Rama Swami Temple.
Modi conducted the road show in an open vehicle and was accompanied by the BJP’s Kerala chief K Surendran. Enthusiastic party workers showered flowers and chanted slogans. People gathered hours ahead of Modi’s arrival, creating a festive atmosphere along the route of the roadshow. The event went on for nearly 25 minutes.
Kerala is the only communist-ruled state of India.
Following the rousing welcome he received during the roadshow, Modi, in posts on social media platform X in both English and Malayalam, said, “Humbled by the affection in Kochi. Sharing some glimpses” and shared photographs of the enthusiastic public response to his arrival in the southern state.
Read: With general polls approaching, Modi government seeks parliament nod for extra spending
Humbled by the affection in Kochi. Sharing some glimpses… pic.twitter.com/mhzhVRhybJ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 16, 2024
Thousands of people, including avid BJP supporters with flowers, garlands, and party flags, lined both sides of the 1.3-km roadshow route from KPCC junction here to the Ernakulam government guest house, where he would be staying.
Modi, wearing a waistcoat and a saffron Nehru cap with lotus symbols, rode in an open vehicle and reciprocated the excitement by waving both hands at the cheering crowd on both sides of the brightly lit route.
The entire route was under a tight security net, with thousands of police personnel being deployed to ensure Modi’s safety.
There had been traffic restrictions in place in the port city, especially along the roadshow route, since Tuesday afternoon.
This visit of Modi, to attend the marriage of daughter of actor-turned politician Suresh Gopi at the Guruvayoor temple on Wednesday, shows the significance the BJP national leadership places on the Thrissur seat, which is currently represented by the Indian National Congress, India’s main opposition party.
The BJP strengthened its voter base in Thrissur during the 2019 general polls with the candidacy of Suresh Gopi.
Despite making sincere efforts since the 1980s, the saffron party has not been able to make much electoral progress in the southern state, where power has consistently been held either by the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front or the Congress-led United Democratic Front.
To break their streak of not winning elections in the southern state, the BJP is capitalising on the growing popularity of Modi in Kerala.
Earlier on Tuesday, the PM was accorded a warm welcome by Kerala’s governor Arif Mohammed Khan and chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan after he arrived at the Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery at 6.50 pm in a special aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
Thereafter, he left for the airport at the INS Garuda Naval Base by helicopter at 7 pm.
On Wednesday, at 6.30 am, Modi will leave for Guruvayur, where he will offer prayers at the famous Lord Krishna temple and attend the marriage of actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi’s daughter, party sources said.
(With PTI inputs)
