With Assembly elections due in Kerala and Tamil Nadu next year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making quiet but calculated changes in both states. In Kerala, the party has softened its Hindutva image and is focusing on development and minority outreach.
In Tamil Nadu, it has stepped back to allow the AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) to lead the alliance.
"There is clearly a shift in the party’s approach,” said a BJP national office-bearer. “The organisational changes reflect that too.” He pointed to the appointment of Rajeev Chandrasekhar as Kerala BJP chief. Chandrasekhar, a former technocrat, replaced long-time leaders with a team that includes OBC, SC, ST and Christian representatives. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP replaced the outspoken K Annamalai with Nainar Nagrendran, known for his soft-spoken and cooperative style.
The BJP's new Tamil Nadu strategy involves letting AIADMK take the lead. “We will continue with Annamalai’s aggressive stance, but only against the DMK, not the AIADMK,” the senior BJP leader said. “The AIADMK is our natural ally. Its leader, Edappadi K Palaniswami, will be the face of the NDA in Tamil Nadu. Our agenda will follow theirs.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visit to Tamil Nadu confirmed this shift. During the visit, Shah renewed the alliance with the AIADMK and praised the legacy of MGR and Jayalalithaa. Just last year, AIADMK had cut ties with the BJP after accusing Annamalai of insulting key Dravidian leaders. Shah’s statement this time signalled the party’s readiness to make amends to keep the alliance intact.
The alliance also helps the BJP counter claims by the ruling DMK that the Centre is biased against Tamil Nadu. “We will try to move the debate from a Delhi vs Chennai clash to the failures of the DMK government,” a BJP leader explained.
In Kerala, the BJP is focusing on the Christian community to expand its base. Christians and Muslims together make up nearly 45% of the state’s population. While Muslim support remains elusive, the BJP sees an opportunity among Christians. Tensions between the two minority communities have created space for the BJP to engage with Church leaders.
Chandrasekhar has met Church heads of several denominations since taking charge. His team is focused on promoting the party as one that can deliver jobs, development, and investment. “We want Kerala to be a growth economy....”
Despite its visibility, the BJP has not made a major electoral breakthrough in Kerala. It won just one Assembly seat in 2012 and secured only one Lok Sabha seat in 2024. The NDA’s vote share, however, has steadily risen from 10.8 pc in 2014 to 19.14% in 2024. A senior leader said, “With the current image, this is nearly the best the NDA can achieve.”
The BJP is also treading carefully on religious issues. During a recent controversy involving the Malayalam film L-2 Empuraan, which allegedly depicted scenes reminiscent of the 2002 Gujarat riots, the party chose to stay silent. A local leader who sought a ban was suspended.
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