Prime Minister Narendra Modi has penned a significant letter to V V Rajesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) first-ever mayor in Kerala, interpreting the party's recent electoral success in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation as a signal that the people of the state are ready for a new dawn. This landmark victory last month ended the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s 45-year-long uninterrupted rule over the capital's civic body.
A Milestone Written in Golden Letters
In his correspondence, the Prime Minister described the BJP's win as a milestone written in golden letters. He asserted that the party's vision to build a 'Viksit Thiruvananthapuram' (Developed Thiruvananthapuram) has found resonance with citizens from all sections of society across the city. Modi credited the victory to the people's observation of the work done by the central government and its urban development efforts in various states.
"People have seen the work of our government at the Centre and also our efforts towards urban development in various states, which is why they have decided to bless us," PM Modi wrote. He specifically highlighted that the success indicates that the people of Kerala, especially the youth and women, are looking towards a fresh political beginning.
Breaking Free from Old Politics
The Prime Minister used the opportunity to critique the state's traditional political fronts. He stated that Kerala wants to break free from the broken promises of the LDF (Left Democratic Front) and the UDF (United Democratic Front). According to Modi, these alliances have a poor governance record visible to all and have perpetuated a culture of violence and brutality that goes against Kerala's ethos.
He paid tribute to the resilience of BJP workers in the state, noting that for decades they walked a difficult path marked by adversity, hostility, and brutal violence. Despite these challenges, he said, the party's karyakartas (workers) stood firm. Modi positioned the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as the emerging people's choice, rooted in what he described as nationalism without exclusion, development without corruption, and governance without appeasement.
The Road Ahead for Thiruvananthapuram
Rajesh, a BJP state secretary, assumed the mayor's office last week following the decisive polls. The BJP secured 50 seats in the 101-strong corporation council, while the Congress-CPI(M) combine managed to get 49. The BJP also gained the support of an Independent councilor, with election to one remaining seat to be held later.
During the campaign, development was the central plank for the BJP in the state capital. The state unit had made a significant promise: if voted to power in the corporation, they would bring Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the city within 45 days of the results to secure big-ticket projects for Thiruvananthapuram. This victory marks a crucial inroad for the BJP in a state traditionally dominated by the LDF and UDF, potentially altering Kerala's political landscape.
