Amit Shah sounds poll bugle in Kerala, rakes up Sabarimala, PFI

Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and said that both alliances are indulging in appeasement politics with Jamaat-e-Islami and Popular Front of India being their major vote bank.

Shah also raked up the Sabarimala gold loss case to target the ruling Left in Kerala, accusing it of “protecting” the real culprits, and demanded a probe by a neutral investigation agency into the sensational case. Shah announced that BJP would launch protests and door-to-door awareness campaigns on the issue. His statement came two days after Sabarimala Tantri (priest) Kandararu Rajeevaru was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Kerala High Court in connection with the case.

Visiting the town for the first time after the BJP-led NDA captured power in Thirvuananthapuram city corporation in the recent local body polls, Shah sounded the bugle for the Assembly polls, scheduled to be held in just a few months.Addressing the newly elected BJP representatives of local bodies in the launching the party’s Mission 2026 programme.

Shah said that the Assembly elections in Kerala and West Bengal would be held together and asserted that the BJP would form Governments in both the eastern and southern States.

“Friends, tell me, can the LDF and UDF protect Kerala from Jamaat-e-Islami, PFI, and the now-growing SDPI? They cannot. PFI, SDPI, and Jamaat-e-Islami are their vote banks; they will never take any action against them. If anyone can save Kerala from their divisive agenda, it is the BJP. We abolish triple talaq, and both the LDF and UDF oppose it,” he added.

Raising the Sabarimala gold loss issue to target Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his Government, he said those who failed to protect the properties of the hill shrine could not safeguard the faith of the people. “Only the BJP can safeguard the faith of believers in Kerala,” Shah said.

According to the HM, the “theft” of gold at Sabarimala was not just a concern for people in Kerala but for devotees across the country. Shah said he had seen the FIR in the case and alleged that the manner in which it was drafted made it clear that it was aimed at protecting the accused.

Claiming that two persons associated with the LDF were under suspicion, the BJP leader asked how an impartial investigation could be possible under such circumstances. He further alleged that even the Congress could not be absolved, claiming that evidence had emerged of the involvement of its leaders.

“I demand that the Chief Minister hand over the probe to a neutral investigation agency. The BJP will carry out protests and door-to-door awareness campaigns. This is democracy, Vijayan, and you must order a probe by a neutral agency,” Shah said, referring to the Chief Minister.

Shah said the local body election victory was not the party’s final goal and that the BJP must work further to achieve its objective of having a BJP Chief Minister in Kerala. Referring to Modi’s vision of a developed India by 2047, Shah said, “Viksit Bharat” would be achieved through “Viksit Kerala”.

Shah pointed out that the BJP’s vote share in Kerala had risen steadily from 11 per cent in 2014 to 16 per cent in 2019 and about 20 per cent in 2024, and asserted that increasing it to 30-40 per cent by 2026 was achievable, as the party had demonstrated across the country. Referring to the BJP’s growth from two Lok Sabha seats in 1984 to forming the Government at the Centre for a third consecutive term, he cited Assam, Manipur, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh as examples of the party’s expansion. “The next opportunity is Kerala, and we will come to power here in 2026,” Shah added.