Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said Kerala is heading toward political change, asserting that people in the state are beginning to place their faith in the BJP after the party’s recent victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, ending more than four decades of Left dominance.
Addressing a large BJP rally at Putharikandam Maidan, Modi compared the party’s breakthrough in Kerala to its early rise in Gujarat. He recalled that the BJP’s political journey in Gujarat began in 1987 with a single municipal corporation win in Ahmedabad, which eventually paved the way for decades of governance in the state.
“Our beginning in Gujarat started with one city, and today, a similar beginning has happened in Kerala with Thiruvananthapuram. This shows that the people of Kerala are gradually connecting with the BJP and trusting us,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi described the civic body victory as a mandate against what he termed decades of misgovernance by both the LDF and the UDF. He alleged that successive governments had ignored Thiruvananthapuram’s development, leaving the capital city deprived of essential infrastructure and basic amenities.
“The people were let down for years. The BJP’s win reflects the determination to free Kerala from corruption and stagnation,” he said, adding that the party has already begun working toward transforming the city.
The Prime Minister assured full support from the Centre to develop Thiruvananthapuram into a model city. “Have faith. The long-awaited change has begun. Thiruvananthapuram will emerge as one of the best cities in India,” he told the gathering.
Modi is on a visit to Kerala to inaugurate multiple development projects and flag off new train services, as the BJP steps up its campaign ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.