After a highly enthusiastic reception during his recent visit to Thrissur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reportedly planning to visit Kerala at least three more times before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, according to sources. The visit to Thrissur has reportedly boosted the morale of BJP cadres in the state.
Despite not having a single seat in the 140-member Kerala Assembly, sources suggest that the BJP is now determined to make significant strides, potentially opening its account in one or more than 20 seats in the upcoming elections.
It is anticipated that Prime Minister Modi will visit the state once in January and twice in February. During these visits, he is expected to dedicate three new projects, including a new facility at the Cochin Shipyard, a National Highway, and a project at the Kochi Metro.
In the 2019 general elections, the Kerala BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a distant third position in 19 seats and came second in just one seat, with a total vote share of 15.64%. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) won 19 seats with a vote share of 47.48%, while the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front secured 36.29% votes and one seat.
However, in the 2021 state Assembly polls, the BJP's vote share declined by 2.60%, reaching 12.36%, compared to the 2016 Assembly polls, and the party lost the only seat it held. The upcoming visits by Prime Minister Modi are seen as part of the BJP's strategy to strengthen its presence in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
(With Agency Inputs)
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