Brief
Kerala chief minister says BJP will never rule the state
Satheesan argues the BJP’s vote share will stay below 20 % despite recent municipal wins.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Kerala chief minister V D Satheesan told PTI on Friday that the BJP’s ambition to form government in the state will remain unfulfilled, citing the region’s secular character and the role of the CPI(M) in the party’s limited gains.
What happened
Satheesan made the comments in an interview at his official residence in Thiruvananthapuram on Oct 9, 2026. He noted that the BJP had won three Assembly seats and the Thiruvananthapuram municipal corporation, but attributed those victories to a “gift on a silver platter” from the ruling CPI(M). He projected the BJP’s vote share at 15 % to 20 % at most, saying the state’s secular outlook would prevent a larger breakthrough.
What the reports add
The interview, reported by New Indian Express, includes Satheesan’s claim that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity and the RSS’s organisational strength have helped the BJP expand, but he down‑played their impact on Kerala’s politics. He also alleged an “unholy nexus” between the BJP and the CPI(M), suggesting the latter’s internal failures created space for the saffron party.
What was said
"Winning the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation election and three Assembly seats, it was a gift on a silver platter given by the CPI(M), (then) ruling CPI(M)," Satheesan told PTI.
"I don’t think that BJP will rule Keralam. They may get 15 per cent or below (vote share), maximum below 20 per cent, not more than that because Keralam is secular," he added.
How it came about
The comments follow a period of heightened tension in Kerala politics, including recent accusations between the Congress and BJP over attacks on party offices in Thiruvananthapuram (see Felo’s article Congress and BJP trade accusations). Satheesan’s remarks also reference the BJP’s broader strategy after Modi’s 2024 national victory, which the chief minister says has partly fueled the party’s growth in the state.
Key facts
- Kerala chief minister V D Satheesan said the BJP will never form government in Kerala. (newindianexpress.com)
- Satheesan projected the BJP’s vote share at 15‑20 % at most. (newindianexpress.com)
- He attributed the BJP’s recent municipal and Assembly wins to a "gift" from the ruling CPI(M). (newindianexpress.com)
- Satheesan cited both Modi’s popularity and RSS organisational strength as factors in the BJP’s expansion. (newindianexpress.com)
Sources
- [1] newindianexpress.com — originally reported as “BJP will not come to power in Keralam, says Satheesan; alleges RSS controls party”
