“BJP Will Form Govt in Kerala in 2026”: Amit Shah Slams LDF-UDF

Thiruvananthapuram:Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday launched a sharp political offensive in Kerala, targeting both the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF while asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to form the government in the state after the 2026 Assembly elections. Addressing a massive crowd at Putharikandam Maidan in Thiruvananthapuram, Shah claimed that the people of Kerala are ready for change and thanked them for increasing the BJP’s vote share from 11% to 20%, calling it a strong foundation for a BJP-led future.

Shah declared that the BJP would contest all 21,000 seats in the upcoming local body elections and urged the public to help raise the party’s vote share to 25%. He stressed that the BJP now has a presence in all 21,000 wards across Kerala and is no longer an “emerging” force but a serious contender for power. The Home Minister had earlier inaugurated the party’s new state committee office, which he described as a “temple” and a symbol of the BJP’s steady growth in Kerala. Over 25,000 party workers attended the rally in person, while nearly one lakh joined virtually.

He praised the dedication of BJP workers and underlined that their strength is the party’s real power. Shah reaffirmed that the BJP is not just contesting elections but is working to realise the vision of a developed Kerala under the broader goal of “Viksit Bharat.” He outlined the party’s three-fold model for progress—corruption-free governance, inclusive implementation of welfare schemes, and development that goes beyond vote-bank politics. These, he said, are the guiding principles inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will drive Kerala’s transformation.

Contrasting the BJP with the ruling CPI(M), Shah noted that while both parties are cadre-based, the CPI(M) works for personal benefit, whereas the BJP is focused on progress. He slammed the LDF government for failing to act on law and order issues, alleging that Kerala has become a hub of communalism. Referring to the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), Shah said that while the central government had acted decisively, the state government continued to allow its shadow to linger.

Rejecting claims that the BJP is confined to the Hindi heartland, Shah pointed to the party’s victories in states like Odisha, Assam, and across the Northeast. He also mentioned the BJP’s growing presence in Telangana and Tamil Nadu, stating confidently that Kerala is on track to join that list. He reminded critics that the BJP was once mocked for its ambitions in Odisha too, where it now governs.

Shah launched a scathing attack on both LDF and UDF, accusing them of fostering a culture of corruption. He listed scandals under the LDF, including the AI camera controversy, Life Mission scam, cooperative bank frauds, and the gold smuggling case linked to the chief minister’s office. He also mentioned the now-defunct IT firm Exalogic, reportedly linked to CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter. Even with the CM abroad, Shah said, the gold smuggling case continues to haunt the government. He further claimed that the Congress-led UDF was equally corrupt and dismissed the Congress as a party “on the verge of being wound up.”

Highlighting the contrast with the BJP, Shah asserted that in over a decade of governance, not a single corruption charge had been made against the Modi government. He also outlined key developmental initiatives brought to Kerala under the BJP-led central government, including the Vizhinjam Port project, a ₹1,800 crore dry dock project at Kochi, and ₹65,000 crore worth of National Highway development. He noted that railway allocations to the state had increased significantly, from ₹372 crore to ₹3,700 crore.