Lots to cheer for BJP in Kerala apart from Suresh Gopi’s historic Thrissur win

The BJP, which broke ground in Kerala by opening its Lok Sabha account in the state with Suresh Gopi’s victory from Thrissur, has more reason to cheer as it has managed to increase its vote share in almost all Lok Sabha constituencies of the state.

An Assembly segment-wise analysis shows that the BJP was first-placed in 11, including six falling under the Thrissur seat, and runner-up in six. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had led only in one Assembly segment – Nemon – the seat it had won in 2016; and had finished second in seven.

Preliminary Election Commission (EC) data shows that the BJP-led NDA’s vote share grew to 19.39% in the state, up from the 15.64% five years ago. The BJP alone polled 16.83% of the votes, as against 13.81% in 2019. In six LS seats, the BJP got a vote share of above 20% this time.

Interestingly, Thrissur, where Gopi secured the historic win, had not been on the BJP’s radar until the actor-turned-politician entered the scene as the party had put its focus on Thiruvananthapuram, which is seen to have had a pro-Sangh Parivar vote bank since the 1980s.

Though he did not have a launchpad, Gopi rode on his stardom. In 2019, he had helped the BJP increase its vote share from 11.15% in 2014 to 28.2% in 2019, even as he finished third. In 2021, he contested the Thrissur Assembly seat and increased the BJP vote share to 31.3%, from 19.46% in 2016.

Even after his losses, Gopi remained involved in local issues and other charitable activities in the constituency. His pet dialogue “Thrissur njan edukkuva, enikku venom Thrissur (I am taking Thrissur, I want Thrissur)” was a hit with the masses.

His donation of a golden crown to the Catholic Cathedral Church in Thrissur to mark his daughter’s wedding also struck