Veteran Congress leader and esteemed figure Shashi Tharoor, victorious since 2009 in Thiruvananthapuram, recently hinted this might be his final Lok Sabha battle – a statement that political analysts interpret as a fear of losing the seat. Kerala now buzzes with anticipation as BJP sets its eyes on significant gains. Prime Minister Modi has even boasted of conquering 10 seats in the state. Subsequent to Modi's rally, the announcement of Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar as the candidate underscores BJP's earnest aspiration for Thiruvananthapuram. Advancing statistics further elevate BJP's prospects. This election seems poised to craft BJP's historical moment in Thiruvananthapuram, setting up a fascinating face-off between Shashi Tharoor and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, with the nation's eyes fixated on the outcome.
Tharoor Versus Rajeev Chandrasekhar
Both Tharoor and Chandrasekhar hail from Kerala. Initiating his political journey in the city, Tharoor endeavored to master Malayalam and successfully aligned with tech experts, farmers, and women from all society sectors. The former UN diplomat stands as one of Kerala's most revered Congress figures, widely acknowledged for his mastery of English. Amid the tribulations following his wife Sunanda Pushkar's demise in 2014, Tharoor retained his seat in a testament to resilience. His daring bid for Congress presidency in October 2022 only augmented his luster.
BJP's candidate, the astute tech entrepreneur Chandrasekhar, commenced his parliamentary journey representing Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha in 2006. A leading voice in Modi's cabinet on digitalization, emerging technologies, and artificial intelligence, like Tharoor, Chandrasekhar espouses a global perspective and has been IT and Skill Development Minister since July 2021. The BJP believes that Chandrasekhar, with his roots in Thrissur, could be a game-changer in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Election History of Thiruvananthapuram, BJP on the Rise
Tracing BJP's trajectory in Thiruvananthapuram reveals a consistent second-place finish since 2014, relegating CPI(M) to third. In 2014, BJP stalwart O Rajagopal's close contest with Tharoor, who narrowly escaped with a lead of 15,470 votes, marked a dramatic 20% increase in vote share from 2009. In 2019, BJP's Kummanam Rajasekharan garnered over 31% votes but was bested by Tharoor with an impressive tally of over 41%.
Tharoor's commanding lead with over 400,000 votes in 2019, versus BJP candidate Rajasekharan's near 316,000 votes, forms the cornerstone of BJP's hopes. This strategic candidature of Rajeev Chandrasekhar reflects BJP's ambition to resonate with intellectuals within the party, ensuring national media attention on this election.
The Electoral Dynamics of Thiruvananthapuram
The electoral landscape of Thiruvananthapuram parliamentary constituency discloses a significant Hindu electorate of approx. 76.8%. The minority shares, with around 9.1% Muslim and 14% Christian voters, suggest potential openings for the BJP. Amidst the polarized issue of 'love jihad', some support from the Christian community could swing towards BJP, and Prime Minister Modi's outreach to churches aims to solidify this. Recent statements by some Kerala priests hint at an inclination towards BJP. Therefore, the alignment of voters in this constituency remains crucial to the upcoming electoral verdict.
