amit-shah-predicts-bjp-s-rise-to-power-in-kerala

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party is poised to gain power in Kerala, citing three key issues that he says plague the state under its current Communist-led government: corruption, a weak law and order system, and developmental stagnation.

 

Shah claimed that Kerala, which has experienced alternating rule by the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF), is "riddled with scams." He specifically mentioned the gold smuggling scam, alleging that its influence reached the Chief Minister's Office. He also referenced the cooperative scam and the Exalogic scam, asserting that the public is unhappy with the current state of affairs.

 

 On the issue of law and order, Shah claimed it had been "compromised for votes" and to benefit the ruling party's cadre. He questioned why the activities of the Popular Front of India (PFI) were not banned earlier, noting that the organisation had expanded from Kerala into Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Gujarat. He credited the Narendra Modi government for the eventual ban, stating that without the central government's intervention, the PFI would still be active.

 

Also read: Amit Shah, Venugopal trade barbs in Lok Sabha showdown

 

Shah also highlighted what he called a "Kerala paradox": the state has the highest literacy rate but also the highest unemployment. He attributed this to a "lethargy" in Kerala's development ethos. He said that while the state has the potential for IT, semiconductor, and knowledge-based industries, these opportunities have not been explored. According to Shah, this is because the LDF government prioritises its cadre over the people, relying on automatic revenues from tourism and foreign remittances. He alleged that the ₹5,100 crore in disaster relief funds provided by the Centre since 2014 had been diverted to the party cadre.

 

In contrast, Shah said the BJP's development model is based on "appeasement-less, caste-less politics of performance", which he believes will increase the party's support base in the state. He predicted that the BJP would win 25 per cent of the votes in the upcoming local body polls and would not have to rely on the other two fronts to come to power in the subsequent Assembly elections.