Among the many three MLAs chosen by the BJP within the Kerala Meeting, Chattanur MP BB Gopakumar has been appointed because the chief of the Bharatiya Janata Get together’s Legislative Get together.. Gopakumar has emerged because the occasion’s selection forward of former Union minister stalwarts Rajeev Chandrasekhar and V. Muraleedharan, who had been picked from Nemom and Kazhakottam respectively.
Greater than two weeks have handed for the reason that election outcomes had been introduced, throughout which period Parliament will elect its speaker, however the BJP solely introduced its legislative chief on Wednesday, forward of the primary session of the brand new parliament, which is scheduled to start with Governor Rajendra Alrekar’s handle on Friday.
“I used to be shocked by my choice. I solely came upon about it when Chandrasekhar (additionally the Bharatiya Janata Get together chief) knowledgeable me. I would be the spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Get together within the Kerala Meeting. It is a nice honor for me,” Gopakumar mentioned.
Gopakumar, who gained from the Left’s stronghold Chattanol by a margin of over 4,000 votes in latest polls, was one of many darkish horses for the 2026 Kerala Meeting elections. He even threw his hat into the ring final week for the parliamentary speaker’s put up. Gopakumar, a former principal, joined the Bharatiya Janata Get together 10 years in the past by means of the occasion’s ‘missed name’ membership drive.
Chattanur, held by the CPI in consecutive polls since 2006, was one of many seats the place RSS employees had been deployed on the grassroots stage, resulting in Gopakumar’s shock victory. Gopakumar additionally attracted assist as a distinguished face of the Hindu Ezhava neighborhood, which makes up about 45% of voters within the constituency. The Ezhava neighborhood’s Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam and Nile Service Society (NSS) have left a powerful mark on the seat.
When Gopakumar, a former Congress employee, contested the 2016 meeting elections from Chattanur metropolis, the Bharatiya Janata Get together’s vote share was solely 24.92%. In 2021, he contested towards Mr Chattanoor once more and raised the vote share of the BJP to 30.61%. In 2026, Gopakumar defeated CPI’s R Rajendran with 38.54% of the votes. Gopakumar, who was earlier the BJP Kollam district president, has been lively within the constituency for the previous 10 years.
Gopakumar mentioned the Chhattanor mannequin might be replicated in all seats in Kerala, the place stakes had been excessive for the Bharatiya Janata Get together in each the Meeting and Sabah elections.
BJP officers mentioned Gopakumar’s elevation to the place of legislative occasion chief needs to be seen as an “growing affect” of the RSS in occasion affairs. In 2016, Gopakumar was elected to the meeting polls with assist from the RSS. Within the latest parliamentary elections too, the RSS performed an essential function in his marketing campaign. Officers mentioned the group needed to acknowledge the leaders who had been promoted.
Of the occasion’s three members within the Kerala Meeting, Gopakumar is the “safer selection” to guide the Bharatiya Janata Get together’s Legislative Get together. It is because the transfer will assist consolidate the occasion within the state and shift its focus to Kollam district, the place Chattanur is situated. After the occasion got here to energy in Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Company in December final 12 months and gained two seats in Thiruvananthapuram district, Nemom and Kazhakuttam, the Bharatiya Janata Get together now desires to focus on the neighboring Kollam district to broaden its attain.
“These wins are important as a result of they had been all seats held by the Left. Kollam is one other Left bastion,” the Kerala BJP chief mentioned, hinting that the occasion’s focus is on gaining floor in historically Left-dominated areas.
Mr. Muraleedharan’s public statements focusing on Muslims after the election didn’t go down nicely with state leaders, because the BJP was eager to succeed in out to minorities. Muraleedharan has repeatedly expressed issues in regards to the affect of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) within the Congress-led United Democratic Entrance (UDF) authorities.
Muraledharan, who is likely one of the most senior Bharatiya Janata Get together leaders within the state and has intensive expertise within the occasion and its ideological dad or mum RSS, is predicted to be given accountability within the central staff of Bharatiya Janata Get together nationwide president Nitin Navin, sources mentioned.
“Gopakumar is a basic instance of what the occasion can exhibit to different Karyakarthas. He’s somebody who has risen by means of the ranks in politics. His promotion will present others that should you work arduous, the occasion provides you with a put up,” the official mentioned.
Gopakumar’s age was additionally an element. Whereas Muraleedharan is 67 years previous, Gopakumar is 60 years previous and has intensive expertise working in events and organizations.
