Popular actor, BJP’s brightest Kerala star, Suresh Gopi holds out Union ministry promise to voters

“A Union Minister for Thrissur, Modi’s guarantee’’. The BJP’s prospects in this constituency are being built, day by day, on this promise of actor-turned politician Suresh Gopi. There is another, more personal slogan that the former Rajya Sabha MP has dusted off from his unsuccessful 2019 campaign from the seat: “Thrissur njan edukkuva (I am taking Thrissur), Enikku venom Thrissur (I want Thrissur)”.

Gopi finished third in 2019, behind the Congress and CPI candidates, but got an impressive 2.93 lakh votes. Now, Thrissur is one of the constituencies in Kerala the BJP is betting on to win, on the strength ofGopi’s popularity, the Hindu votes, and its own efforts in the state towards wooing the Christian community, which forms around 21% of the electorate.

The BJP has never won a Lok Sabha seat in Kerala.

Facing Gopi, 65, are Congress veteran K Muraleedharan, the sitting MP from Vadakara, and former CPI minister V S Sunil Kumar.

On April 19 evening at Mattathur, a CPI(M)-dominated village, hundreds are waiting for Gopi. Pointing to the crowd, a local BJP leader says: “Lotus has already bloomed… The LDF and UDF have realized that their political base is shaken. Otherwise, why is this crowd waiting for him?”

As Gopi’s vehicle arrives, the crowd scrambles to capture him on their mobile phones. Once the commotion has settled down, Gopi says: “I want you to give me a chance. I promise that I will dedicate my life to the people here.”

Ashwin, who identifies himself as a Left sympathizer, is not sure whom he will vote for this time. “We are not against the Left, but the performance of its state government. It has hiked fees for various services and certificates at all offices. You cannot even construct a small house… People are