BJP Makes Gains in Kerala Assembly Elections 2026

The BJP has made notable strides in the Kerala Assembly Elections 2026, winning three seats after failing to secure any in 2021. With an increase in vote share and key victories by prominent candidates, the party is gradually establishing its presence in the state. This article explores the implications of these results and the BJP's evolving role in Kerala's political landscape.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 7, 2026, 06:26 IST

BJP's Progress in Kerala Elections

In the recent Kerala Assembly elections, the coalition led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured victory in three seats. This marks a significant improvement for the BJP, which did not win any seats in 2021. The party also saw an increase in its overall vote share. Earlier, in the local body elections, the BJP achieved notable success, including the election of its mayor in Thiruvananthapuram. These results indicate that the BJP is gradually establishing its presence in Kerala.

Key Victories and Candidates

This time, BJP candidates Rajeev Chandrasekhar from Nemom, V. Muraleedharan from Kazhakootam, and B. B. Gopakumar from Chathannoor emerged victorious. Although their margins of victory were narrow, these leaders are set to represent the BJP in the Kerala Assembly. The party had placed its bets on prominent figures, including Rajeev Chandrasekhar and V. Muraleedharan, alongside other candidates like Navya Haridas, Shobha Surendran, Padmaja Venugopal, Shawn George, George Kurian, P.C. George, and former governor K. Rajasekharan.

Election Results and Future Prospects

In its efforts to strengthen its position in Kerala, the BJP formed an alliance with two other parties for this election. The BJP fielded candidates in 99 constituencies, while its coalition partners, the Twenty-20 party and Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), contested 19 and 20 seats, respectively. Ultimately, the coalition secured only three seats, all attributed to the BJP. The party garnered approximately 2.466 million votes, an increase of nearly 100,000 compared to the previous election.

With three seats won, the BJP emerged as the second-largest party in six constituencies, indicating its growing role in the political landscape, particularly as a significant opposition force against the Left and Congress. However, when comparing vote percentages to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP's share has decreased. Nevertheless, the party's representation in the assembly is a positive development, with Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar winning from Nemom and poised to become a prominent voice for the BJP in the state.

BJP's Performance in 2021

In the 2021 assembly elections, the BJP contested 115 seats but failed to win any, securing only 11.3% of the votes with a total of 2.354 million votes. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP performed moderately, winning just one seat but achieving 16.8% of the vote, placing it third behind Congress and the CPI.