Rajeev Chandrasekhar Declares ‘Viksit Keralam’ Mission After Becoming BJP Chief in Kerala

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who was recently appointed as the Kerala BJP President, expressed on Monday that his mission is to achieve ‘Viksit Keralam,’ inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India).

Reflecting on his diverse background, he shared, “I was born to a father with an Indian Army background in Gujarat, studied in Thrissur, Kerala, and other schools, and later worked in both the US and India. With 18 years of experience in the Rajya Sabha, I have been entrusted with this responsibility by my party leadership and all of you. I assure you, I will only step down once I’ve ensured that Kerala has a BJP-led NDA government.”

Chandrasekhar was the sole candidate to file for the party president position on Sunday, and on Monday, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi officially announced his new role. The outgoing Kerala BJP President, K. Surendran, handed over the party flag and minutes book, symbolizing the transition of leadership.

Chandrasekhar also praised Prime Minister Modi’s work over the last 11 years, aligning his own vision with that of the Prime Minister. “Eleven years ago, much like Kerala’s current struggles under poor governance, India was in a similar state. But thanks to PM Modi, India has risen to the top four globally. A new India has been built, driven by Modiji’s policies and focus on good governance,” he said.

He emphasized that the country’s rise was a result of performance-based politics. “This is what we aim to replicate in Kerala – my mission and vision are aligned with that of PM Modi.”

Chandrasekhar further noted the positive transformations in sectors such as technology, trade, and manufacturing that have taken place across the country and expressed confidence that Kerala would see similar progress. He added, “Investment will flow to areas with talent, and talent will gravitate toward places offering opportunities. We will build a Kerala where there are no ‘nokku kooli’ (gawking wages) and where opportunities are abundant.”

He also stressed that it was the BJP’s responsibility, along with its workers, to spread this message to every household. “Viksit Keralam is our vision, and it is our mission that everyone benefits, irrespective of religion or community,” said Chandrasekhar, the 60-year-old former Minister of State.

Chandrasekhar also pointed out Kerala’s potential but lamented the lack of opportunities, which is why so many talented youth from the state find success outside of it. “When they are given the right chances, they excel. The problem in Kerala lies in the state government’s reliance on borrowed money. Just look 500 km away in Karnataka, where job opportunities are plentiful, yet we don’t have the same here,” he observed.

He further questioned the reasons behind Kerala’s stagnation, saying, “Is it because of the economy, the enormous debt, the drug problem, or perhaps radicalization? These are major challenges we must address.”

Chandrasekhar highlighted that Kerala has only seen promises from the Left and Congress over the last 70 years and argued that change is needed. “That’s why the BJP’s mission is to bring change. We will achieve the same progress for Kerala that Modiji has brought to the nation,” he concluded.

This marks the first time the national ruling party has appointed someone with relatively little political experience in Kerala to lead the state unit. Chandrasekhar’s only previous political involvement in Kerala was when he contested the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat against the three-time Congress incumbent Shashi Tharoor in the 2024 elections. Although Tharoor won by a margin of about 16,000 votes, Chandrasekhar mounted a strong challenge.

His appointment raised some eyebrows, particularly within the RSS leadership in Kerala, who were reportedly surprised by the move. With the party facing internal divisions among faction leaders, it remains to be seen how smoothly Chandrasekhar will be able to navigate his new role.