BJP's Rise In Kerala Is Big Threat To LDF-UDF: Kerala CPI Chief

CPI National Council member Binoy Viswam has said that the rise of the BJP in Kerala is a big threat to the UDF and the LDF.

Speaking to Indian Express, CPI National Council member said, "We had lost in 2019 too, when again we had got one seat. But the bigger change this time is the undeniable growth of the BJP in the state. The only political party that saw its vote share rise was the BJP. They came first in 11 Assembly segments, and second in eight. This is a serious issue, a big threat. I can't say if only the Left's vote migrated to the BJP."

He stated that the BJP got votes from the UDF and the LDF. Binoy Viswam added: "But our main concern should be that segment who thought we are a trustworthy force throughout their lives... even such people, who formed our mass base, have voted for the BJP. In many of our strongholds, which we used to call CPI/CPI(M) citadels... we found our votes were short. So we have to take up the task of self-critical analysis very seriously."

A detailed analysis of the 2024 Lok Sabha election results in Kerala revealed that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) managed to increase its vote share in the state. This gain came at the expense of both the United Democratic Front (UDF) led by the Congress and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist)."

The BJP created history in Kerala with Suresh Gopi winning the Lok Sabha seat from Thrissur. Mirroring the 2019 results, the UDF secured victory in 18 out of 20 seats, leaving the remaining seat to the LDF."

Despite winning just one seat, its vote share surged from 15.64 per cent in 2019 to 19.23 per cent in 2024. The BJP contested 16 seats, while its ally BDJS contested four. The BJP's own vote share grew from 13 per cent to 16.68 per cent this year.