In a major development, Fr. Shaiju Kurien, the Secretary of Nilackal Orthodox Church, alongside 47 Christian families, formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the Christmas Sneha Sangamam event hosted by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on December 30. The event, inaugurated by V. Muraleedharan, Union Minister of State for External & Parliamentary Affairs, witnessed a surge in BJP membership within the Christian community.
This move follows a trend of influential figures aligning themselves with the BJP in Kerala. Major Ravi, a renowned filmmaker and actor, and C. Reghunath, a devoted Congress worker with a five-decade-long tenure and former General Secretary of Kannur District Congress Committee, recently joined the party. Major Ravi assumes the position of state vice president, while Reghunath becomes a national council member of the BJP.
Notably, Reghunath contested against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as the UDF candidate in the 2021 assembly elections. These additions to the BJP's roster signify a noticeable shift in the political dynamics favoring the party in the state.
Fr. Shaiju Kurien's decision to align with the BJP challenges the prevailing narrative propagated by both the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), as well as other entities, labeling the BJP as communal, extremist, and anti-minority. This move counters these perceptions, diversifying the BJP's support base in Kerala.
In a bid to bolster ties with Christian communities, the BJP initiated a 10-day outreach program called 'Snehayatra.' Launched on December 21 ahead of Christmas, the program involves BJP leaders visiting Christian priests, families, and institutions.
Kerala BJP president K Surendran kicked off the minority outreach event by meeting Major Archbishop Emeritus of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, George Alencherry. This strategic move by the BJP aims to mend relations with the Church, which had been strained following the Manipur riots. Other BJP leaders have engaged with bishops and senior priests as part of this extensive outreach initiative.
Previously, the BJP introduced the 'Snehayatra' program during Easter, and the party's analysis indicates considerable success in building bridges and fostering positive connections with Christian communities.
In a recent high-level meeting assessing readiness for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, BJP senior leader Amit Shah instructed party workers to focus efforts on six crucial Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. These constituencies include Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur, viewed as potential areas for BJP victory. Additionally, the party is concentrating on Attingal, Mavelikkara, Pathanamthitta, and Palakkad.
A recent report suggests that Shah will personally oversee Lok Sabha preparedness for Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur. Speculation surrounds actor-politician Suresh Gopi's potential candidacy in Thrissur. Meanwhile, prominent leaders like Nirmala Sitharaman and Rajeev Chandrashekharan are being considered as potential candidates for the capital city.
BJP's Ongoing Minority Outreach: Fifty Christian Families Align with the Party in Kerala