In Triangular Tussle, Will Palakkad Bypoll Be BJP’s Entry Point Into Kerala?
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Palakkad is one of only two assembly constituencies in Kerala where the party won in the civic body elections and now controls the municipal corporation there
With the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh backing its efforts, Palakkad has become the focal point for the BJP’s ambitions in Kerala. Representational image
Kerala’s Palakkad is emerging as a critical battleground in the state’s highly charged political landscape, with the Bharatiya Janata Party eyeing its first-ever assembly seat in the upcoming bypoll. Even as Palakkad is going to witness a fierce triangular contest among the NDA, UDF, and LDF, the constituency holds particular significance for the BJP. In fact, it has turned out to be the most heated battle in the upcoming by-elections, along with Chelakkara and the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, on November 13.
Palakkad is one of only two assembly constituencies in Kerala where the party won in the civic body elections and now controls the municipal corporation there. The recent RSS Samanvaya Baithak (coordination meeting), held in Palakkad, further underscores the area’s importance to the Sangh’s strategy, with the high-profile meeting planned here, leveraging the cadre strength and mobilisation capabilities in the region.
The bypoll has not only ignited tensions within the Congress and Left camps, exposing internal conflicts of the INDIA bloc, but also heightened the stakes for the BJP. With the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh backing its efforts, Palakkad has become the focal point for the party’s ambitions in Kerala. Could this be the breakthrough moment for the BJP in a state where it has struggled to gain electoral traction? All eyes are on Palakkad, as it may just become the BJP’s entry point into Kerala’s assembly politics as it did in the Lok Sabha polls through Thrissur.
BJP’s bid for a final breakthrough
The district stands out as the one in Kerala where the BJP has held power in the urban body twice, having won control of the Palakkad municipality, one of six civic bodies in the district. In the 2020 civic elections, the BJP secured 28 out of 52 seats, an absolute majority, positioning itself as a dominant force in the area. However, as the upcoming bypoll looms, BJP district president KM Haridas faces the challenge of navigating Palakkad’s complex political landscape, marked by diverse religious communities and rising tensions.
With 122 panchayat members and 28 ward members across the municipality, the BJP’s influence has been growing. Yet, Palakkad’s diverse population, particularly its sizable Christian community, has been historically resistant to the party.
“We have turned the tide. In recent years, issues like love jihad and a string of murders have created a climate of fear among the Christian community. They are equally rattled. We are reaching out to them. We, in fact, are making outreach to all communities in favour of the development of the region,” said Haridas. The community has been a key voter base that the BJP is now attempting to win over.
Notably, there has been a shift. Senior BJP leader S Padmanavan observed that a significant portion of the Christian community, which has traditionally leaned away from the party, supported it in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. As the bypoll approaches, the BJP is hoping to consolidate this newfound support and make Palakkad its first assembly seat in Kerala, he added.
Politics of Palakkad
Starting from 1952, Palakkad voted for both CPM and Congress. However, since 2011 until now, the assembly has been swinging towards the Congress. In the 2016 and 2021 assembly elections, the BJP became the runner-up with 29% and 35% vote shares respectively, pushing the state’s ruling CPM to a distant third place.
In 2021, BJP’s E Sreedharan, popularly known as the Metro Man, came really close to victory as his opponent Congress candidate Shafi Parambil defeated him by a meagre margin of around 4,000 votes.
BJP’s C Krishna Kumar, UDF’s Rahul Mamkootathil. and LDF’s P Sarin are the key candidates here. Meanwhile, knives are out among the candidates and leaders of the INDIA bloc.
With rising internal strife in the Congress camp and growing voter realignments, the bypoll is likely to become a turning point in Kerala’s political landscape, with Palakkad at the heart of the action.
