In a significant boost ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sealed a crucial alliance with Twenty20 Kizhakkambalam, formally bringing the outfit into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fold. The announcement came after a key meeting in Kochi between BJP Kerala state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Twenty20 Kizhakkambalam chief Sabu M. Jacob.
This marks the first time Twenty20 Kizhakkambalam, based in Kizhakkambalam near Kochi, has aligned with a major political front since its inception. The timing couldn’t be more opportune, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to visit Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, where Jacob is likely to share the stage with him, underscoring the alliance’s political weight.
Negotiations had been underway for months, including Jacob’s discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a Kerala visit. Chandrasekhar played a pivotal role in these talks, culminating in Thursday’s decisive meeting. BJP leaders view this partnership as a cornerstone of their strategy to expand influence in the state, particularly in Ernakulam district, where the party has struggled to convert its presence into electoral success.
Twenty20 Kizhakkambalam brings a unique appeal, rooted in its community-driven development model. Jacob praised the BJP-led central government’s growth-oriented governance, signaling ideological alignment. For the BJP, operating in a state dominated by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), this alliance aims to broaden its social base among Christian and other communities in Ernakulam.
The party’s recent electoral record is mixed. It achieved a clean sweep in Aikarapadanna in local body polls but faced setbacks in its home turf of Kizhakkambalam, securing only 14 panchayat seats. Control slipped in Kunnathunad and Mazhuvannoor panchayats, though it maintained strength in Thiruvaniyoor. Both LDF and UDF had tactically backed common candidates to counter Twenty20’s dominance there.
This development is set to reshape Kerala’s political equations, sparking fresh debates across the state. As the BJP eyes a breakthrough in the upcoming polls, the alliance could prove a game-changer in key battlegrounds, challenging the bipolar dominance of traditional fronts.