When Suresh Gopi, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)’s candidate of Kerala’s Thrissur, boldly claimed.
That Prime Minister Modi’s guarantee would ensure that there is a Union minister from Thrissur, several political pundits in Kerala and beyond were sceptical. Suresh Gopi’s statement that he would “take Thrissur” was met with widespread derision and relentless trolling. His ambitions seemed far-fetched in Kerala, a traditional Left stronghold, where the Congress and the Left take turns to form the government.
Suresh Gopi is now the BJP’s first and only Lok Sabha MP from Kerala and has been inducted into Modi 3.0 Union ministry.
The naysayers and trolls have faded away, and their mockery silenced.
Actor-politician Suresh Gopi defeated the Communist Party of India’s V S Sunil Kumar by a margin of 74,000 votes in the Lok Sabha election 2024. He broke through the Left’s bastion and made history by becoming the first BJP Lok Sabha MP from the southern state.
His success isn’t just because of his movie stardom, but is a result of years of persistence, grassroots homework in and around Thrissur, and an array of factors.
His success also has the recipe of success for the BJP in Kerala, a state the saffron party could crack earlier despite years of struggle.
SURESH GOPI BECAME ‘MODI’S MAN IN KERALA’
The first step towards success for Suresh Gopi, who lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Thrissur and the 2021 Assembly election, was rebranding himself.
The BJP’s central leadership played a crucial role in the image makeover.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally selected Gopi for the Thrissur constituency and ensured a high-profile campaign. PM Modi held a roadshow in Thrissur, and even attended Gopi’s daughter’s wedding ceremony at the revered Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple before the elections.
The direct involvement from the Prime Minister ensured Suresh Gopi was ‘Modi’s Man in Kerala’, and he became the face of the efficient delivery of the Central schemes.
Gopi had earlier revealed how Narendra Modi, then the Gujarat CM, had selected him for the Party’s Kerala vision, way back in 2014.
BJP’S CHRISTIAN OUTREACH IN KERALA PAYS OFF
Gopi also extensively reached out to the Christian community, which is around 20% of Kerala and Thrissur electorate.
Gopi’s wooing the Christian voters was part of the BJP’s bigger outreach to the community in Kerala, the state with the highest population of Christians in India.
Christians form 20% of Kerala’s population and has the ability to swing several constituencies.
Traditionally, Congress voters, Christians have been tapped into by the BJP, which is desperately trying to make inroads in Kerala.
The BJP has been working tirelessly to woo Christian voters in Kerala.
In April last year, Anil K Antony, son of veteran Christian Congress leader AK Antony, joined the BJP.
In January this year, Kerala Janapaksham (Secular) chief PC George merged his party with the BJP, thereby boosting the saffron party’s Christian outreach.
Close to the Lok Sabha election, Suresh Gopi offered a golden crown to the statue of Saint Mary at the famous Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral in Thrissur. The Christian voters, in turn, helped him get the Thrissur MP crown.
SURESH GOPI’S GROUND-LEVEL ACTIVISM ON LOCAL ISSUES
Gopi, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election for the same seat, got himself involved in local issues and charitable activities early on, which also resonated with the masses.
Instead of looking for a safe and rewarding seat, Gopi stuck to Thrissur. He stayed there despite losing the 2021 Kerala Vidhan Sabha election.
He kept working on the ground. A Rajya Sabha member since 2016, Gopi utilised the MPLADS funds for the region.
His popular dialogue, ‘Thrissur njan edukkuva, enikku venom Thrissur (I am taking Thrissur, I want Thrissur)’, became a rallying cry of his Lok Sabha campaign.
Suresh Gopi’s campaign also capitalised on the alleged cooperative bank scam, which was said to be orchestrated by local CPI(M) leaders. He led an 18-kilometre padayatra to generate public opinion against the scam, which helped to galvanise support among the people of Thrissur. corruption and money laundering at the Karuvannur Service Co-operative Bank.
GOPI’S SECULAR, PRO-POOR IMAGE HELPED IN LEFTIST KERALA
Gopi, who had been a popular film star playing cops in films, found a place as a champion of the people’s interests.
Another factor that worked in Suresh Gopi’s favour, has been his secular image.
Kerala’s demography, with 30% Muslims and 20% Christians, has been a roadblock to the saffron party’s growth in the state for quite some time. Gopi never shied from attending religious and cultural programs organised by various communities.
Gopi’s image of a hands-on proactive helper, must have worked in his favour too, irrespective of his political affiliation with the BJP, in a state like Kerala.
“Suresh Gopi is a genuine person who likes to help the poor and the needy. His victory is a return gift from god for this work,” said Salim Kumar, a National Award-winning Malayalam cinema actor.
However, “While I don’t subscribe to his political ideology, I like him as a person”, added Salim.
In Leftist Kerala, his pro-poor, secular image attracted the voters.
Gopi, even in his messaging, kept his secular outlook intact.
“Thank you the real secular voters of Thrissur,” is how Gopi thanked the people in the constituency following his win.
“Attempts were made to mislead the voters, but God led them on the correct path to accept my party through me …even if some of you feel that this is a miracle, this miracle was imminent… The victory is due to people’s blessings. I bow down to the truly secular voters of Thrissur who made this victory possible,” the actor added on the results’ day.
If Gopi’s victory in Thrissur will translate to the expected ripple effect on the Assembly constituencies and local bodies across the state, time will tell. That said, Gopi’s victory in Thrissur coincides with the BJP’s increased vote share in Kerala from the 10% in 2014 to 19.39% in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.