Kerala’s assembly elections ignited on Thursday morning, with all eyes on the 140-seat showdown. BJP Kerala chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar, after exercising his franchise in Thiruvananthapuram, fired verbal salvos at Congress and CPI(M), branding them unfit for steering the state’s growth trajectory.
In Ernakulam, Congress veteran VD Satheesan predicted a UDF landslide. ‘We’ve toured the state multiple times in recent months and sensed the tide turning our way. Over 100 seats are within reach,’ he confidently told media.
Not buying the hype, Chandrasekhar called for a decisive verdict favoring BJP. ‘No rushed judgments today. We aim for outright majority to deliver transformation and prosperity,’ he stated post-voting. He mocked opponents’ development promises as hollow. ‘CPI(M) and Congress? Incapable of progress in our state. Corruption defines their playbook.’
Only under BJP-NDA, he argued, could Kerala witness genuine administration serving the masses. ‘People deserve real gains— that’s possible only with us at the helm.’
Chandrasekhar shared a morale-boosting moment: a call from PM Modi just before polling, praising cadres’ efforts and wishing success to BJP-NDA.
On the ground, optimism mingled with critique. A female voter lauded a decade of advancements, contrasting it with past stagnation. ‘Things are improving visibly now,’ she said. Another hoped for sustained yearly growth.
Unemployment dominated voter discourse, as voiced by an elderly resident. ‘Gulf woes threaten our migrant workers. Domestic employment is crucial to mitigate risks. That’s Kerala’s core challenge—everything else is secondary.’
With ballots cast amid tight security, the election’s outcome could reshape Kerala’s political landscape, spotlighting jobs, development, and anti-corruption pledges.
