'2026 Election Will Be Fought To Form A BJP-Led NDA Government': Amit Shah In Kerala

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) new state office, Mararji Bhavan, in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday (12 July), setting the stage for the party’s campaign for local and assembly elections in the state, news agency PTI reported.

To formally open the office, Shah hoisted the BJP flag, planted a sapling in front of the building, cut the ribbon to enter premises, and lit a traditional lamp.

Shah, who arrived in Kerala late Friday night, also paid floral tributes to a bronze half-bust of late former BJP state president K G Marar, which has been installed in the central hall of the new building.

The Union Home Minister was accompanied by Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and other senior leaders of the party’s state unit while he took a tour of the new building.

Following the inauguration of party office, Shah attended the 'Viksit Keralam Sammelan' meeting of BJP’s ward-level leaders at Putharikandam Maidanam.

Addressing the gathering, Shah hailed Kerala as a sacred land, where a great soul like Sri Adi Shankaracharya was born.

"Today, I bow to the noble soul of Sri Adi Shankaracharya," he added.

"While inaugurating the BJP office in Kerala today, I was remembering the sacrifices made by all our party workers who, through their dedication and devotion, have carried our party’s ideology forward. I pay my respects to their sacrifices," Shah said.

He said that the path to a Viksit Bharat goes through a Viksit Kerala.

"Without the development of the powerful southern states, a developed India is not possible. A Viksit Kerala has now become the mission of the Bharatiya Janata Party," he said.

Shah noted that the Viksit Keralam envisioned by the party is rooted in three core principles of Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Corruption-free governance; No discrimination in access to government schemes; Rising above vote bank politics to focus solely on Kerala’s development.

He also urged the people of the state to vote for BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections, saying that the ruling Left and the Opposition Congress have failed to bring "real change".

"Today, I have come to tell the people of Kerala — Whenever you were unhappy with the UPA, you voted for the LDF. And when you were dissatisfied with the LDF, you turned to the UPA. But neither of them could bring real change. Now the time has come — If you truly want transformation, Kerala must bring in a BJP-NDA government," he said.

"I have come to tell the voters of Kerala that the 2026 election will be fought to form a BJP-NDA government under the leadership of PM Modi. Many dedicated karyakartas in Kerala have made great sacrifices. They all shared one dream — to see a BJP-NDA government in Kerala. Now, the time has come to fulfil that dream," he added.

Also Read: Maratha Empire's 12 Iconic Forts Across Maharashtra And Tamil Nadu Get UNESCO World Heritage Site Tag — All You Need To Know