Thiruvananthapuram

Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday accused UDF ally IUML and Jamaat-e-Islami of indulging in “dangerous politics” by using religion to counter the BJP, asserting that his party remains focused on development in the state.

Speaking at a press conference, Chandrasekhar said Union Home Minister Amit Shah would visit Kerala on January 11 to launch the BJP’s campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections.

“The IUML and Jamaat-e-Islami are not prioritising development or employment for youth. Their focus is solely on defeating the BJP. We need to examine who benefits from this politics in the name of secularism,” Chandrasekhar said. He also alleged that the Congress is a “weak party being influenced” by the Jamaat-e-Islami.

Chandrasekhar stressed that the BJP is reaching out to all communities through its Malayali and Vikasit Kerala outreach initiatives, aiming to highlight the party’s development agenda. “We are meeting communities that have so far ignored us, with the goal of ensuring development for everyone,” he said.

Addressing concerns raised by Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan regarding limited educational and employment opportunities for his community, Chandrasekhar said these issues merit discussion. “As a leader of a large community, Natesan has the right to voice concerns, particularly about education-related opportunities,” he added.

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Reflecting on recent local body elections, the BJP leader described the results as an “inflexion point” in Kerala politics, marking significant gains for the party and a defeat for the ruling CPI(M). He claimed the outcome signalled a shift in the state’s political landscape.