Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a former Union Minister and techie-turned-politician, took office as the BJP's state president on Monday and announced his goal of installing the NDA administration in Kerala, a state that is mostly controlled by the Congress-led UDF and the CPI(M)-led LDF.
Speaking to party members, Chandrasekhar said he had been given the task of guiding the BJP-led coalition to victory in the state and that he would only go back once this objective had been accomplished.
Chandrasekhar said he was honored to assume the position and thanked the party's leaders and workers.
"For entrusting me with this responsibility, I wholeheartedly thank my high command-Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president J P Nadda, and others," he stated.
"I also want to express my appreciation to all of the previous state presidents and those who have given their lives in support of the party. Their commitment will be an inspiration to me on my future path," he continued.
Chandrasekhar emphasized the BJP's performance in the most recent Lok Sabha elections while considering the party's expanding clout in Kerala.
"The BJP has always been a party of workers, and it will remain so in the future," he said.
He criticized the Kerala Left administration and questioned how long the state could continue to rely on debt to thrive.
He questioned why there aren't more innovative projects, why students are forced to pursue their education elsewhere, and why the state is so dependent on loans.
Kerala's progress has stalled. The BJP wants to change the state, but there are still obstacles to overcome. Our young people will leave if they are not given opportunity. "We need a Kerala that generates employment and draws in investment," he stated.
The declaration was previously made at the BJP's state council meeting by Pralhad Joshi, the party's central observer.
The only candidate for the top position, Chandrasekhar, turned in two sets of nomination papers at the BJP headquarters on Sunday.
All of the leading state BJP leaders were present when the news was made, including state in-charge Prakash Javadekar and departing president K Surendran.
On stage, Surendran formally gave Chandrasekhar the party flag.
Chandrasekhar stressed that getting the NDA into power in Kerala is essential for advancement and encouraged party members to spread the word about progress to every home.
He used the words of social reformer Sree Narayana Guru to end his speech: "Enrichment through effort, strength through organization, and progress through education."
Surendran claimed in his speech that the BJP has experienced unheard-of expansion in Kerala during the previous ten years.
He claimed that the leader's experience and knowledge in a variety of fields would hasten the BJP's expansion in the state, pointing out that Chandrasekhar was unanimously elected to the top position.
Chandrasekhar's unconventional political style was also brushed aside by the former president, who claimed that he would be a great fit in his new position.
Chandrasekhar, who is 60, brings 20 years of political experience to the role. He has held the positions of Jal Shakti, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT.
In addition, he was the national spokesperson for the BJP and a three-term Karnataka Rajya Sabha MP. He also serves as the Kerala unit of the NDA's vice-chairman.
A prominent politician in Kerala, Chandrasekhar ran as an NDA candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Thiruvananthapuram but was defeated by Congressman Shashi Tharoor by a margin of 16,077 votes.
Chandrasekhar's family is from Thrissur, and he was born to Keralite parents in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. T P G Nambiar, the founder of the BPL Group, is his father-in-law.
As K Surendran's five-year tenure as state president came to an end, the election was held.
