THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2025
Rajeev Chandrasekhar takes charge as BJP Kerala chief, vows to bring NDA to power
Published on Mar 24, 2025
By PTI
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- Thiruvananthapuram — Former Union Minister and technocrat-turned-politician Rajeev Chandrasekhar assumed office as the BJP's state president on Monday, declaring his mission to bring the NDA government to power in Kerala, a state largely dominated by the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF.
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- Addressing party workers, Chandrasekhar stated that he had been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the BJP-led alliance to victory in the state and vowed to return only after achieving this goal.
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- Expressing gratitude to party leaders and workers, Chandrasekhar said he was proud to take on the role.
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- "For entrusting me with this responsibility, I wholeheartedly thank my high command—Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president J P Nadda, and others," he said.
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- "I also extend my gratitude to all former state presidents and those who have sacrificed their lives for the party. Their dedication will serve as a guiding force in my journey ahead," he added.
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- Reflecting on the BJP's growing influence in Kerala, Chandrasekhar highlighted the party's performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
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- "The BJP has always been a party of workers, and it will remain so in the future," he stated.
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- Criticising the Left government in Kerala, he questioned how long the state could survive by relying on debt.
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- He asked why the state depends so heavily on loans, why students are compelled to go abroad for education, and why there is a lack of new initiatives.
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- "Kerala's development has stagnated. Challenges remain, but the BJP’s mission is to transform the state. Without opportunities, our youth will not stay. We need a Kerala that attracts investment and creates employment," he said.
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- Earlier, the party's central observer, Pralhad Joshi, made the announcement during the BJP's state council meeting.
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- Chandrasekhar was the sole nominee for the top post and had submitted two sets of nomination papers at the BJP headquarters on Sunday.
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- At the time of the announcement, all prominent state BJP leaders, including outgoing president K Surendran and state in-charge Prakash Javadekar, were present.
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- Surendran formally handed over the party flag to Chandrasekhar on stage.
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- Chandrasekhar urged party workers to take the message of development to every household, stressing that bringing the NDA to power in Kerala is crucial for progress.
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- Concluding his speech, he quoted social reformer Sree Narayana Guru: "Progress through education, strength through organisation, and enrichment through effort."
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- During his address, Surendran said the BJP has witnessed unprecedented growth in Kerala over the past 10 years.
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- Noting that Chandrasekhar was unanimously elected to the top post, he asserted that the leader’s experience and expertise in various sectors would accelerate the BJP’s growth in the state.
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- The former president also dismissed criticism that Chandrasekhar is not a conventional politician, saying that he would excel in his new role.
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- At 60, Chandrasekhar brings two decades of political experience to the position. He has served as Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Jal Shakti.
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- He has also been a Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka for three terms and served as the BJP’s national spokesperson. Additionally, he is the vice-chairman of the NDA’s Kerala unit.
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- A well-known figure in Kerala, Chandrasekhar contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Thiruvananthapuram as the NDA candidate but lost to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor by 16,077 votes.
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- Born to Keralite parents in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Chandrasekhar has family roots in Thrissur. His father-in-law is T P G Nambiar, the founder of the BPL Group.
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- The election was held as K Surendran completed his five-year term as state president.
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