Rajiv Chandrasekhar Appointed Kerala BJP State President in Historic Shift

Thiruvananthapuram, 24 March 2025: Rajiv Chandrasekhar was officially named state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) in Kerala, marking a pivotal moment for the saffron party. Pralhad Joshi, overseeing the organisational elections in Kerala, announced the decision at the state council meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram. The choice, put forward by Prakash Javadekar during the core committee meeting, reflects the central leadership’s intent to chart a new course for the BJP in the region. 

The party is preparing for a fresh approach in Kerala, moving away from its traditional Hindutva framework and emphasising development. Pralhad Joshi described Chandrasekhar’s appointment as a historic step, while K Surendran, the outgoing state president, underscored the party’s openness, stating that only in the BJP can an ordinary worker ascend to any position, a privilege he enjoyed five years ago.

Chandrasekhar, a seasoned politician with two decades of experience, brings a distinctive profile to the role. A former Union Minister of State for IT, Electronics, and Skill Development in 2021, he holds a degree in electrical engineering and a master’s in computer science. His political career includes three consecutive terms in the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka since 2006 and a tenure as Vice Chairman of the Kerala NDA. Notably, he is the first BJP leader to take the state presidency without a Sangh Parivar background.

The appointment signals the national leadership’s pursuit of a “Kerala model” to broaden Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’s appeal beyond party politics.

Chandrasekhar is expected to champion a development-focused vision, reaching out to a wider audience beyond the BJP’s traditional supporters. His business expertise, shown through founding Jupiter Capital in 2005 and pioneering mobile technology with BPL in 1994, bolsters his leadership credentials.

K Surendran highlighted the party’s growing acceptance in Kerala, dismissing the old view of the state as impossible for lotus to bloom for the BJP, he pointed to progress over the past decade, noting that an ideological shift is underway. “It’s not merely about winning one seat; the people of Kerala are embracing a new idea, moving away from failed experiments of the past,” he said.

Chandrasekhar’s rise has faced scrutiny. Critics initially questioned his lack of daily political tradition when he stood in the Lok Sabha elections from Thiruvananthapuram. Yet, within five days, many recognised his acceptability as a leader. K Surendran cited Chandrasekhar’s recent experience in Thiruvananthapuram as proof of his capability.

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"This is a historic moment and the crucial moment in history when Kerala will recieve unprecedented support from the people," stated union minister Suresh Gopi.

Gopi reminded how the opposition party's district meetings which concluded, hinting at CPIM, found a big movement of people towards BJP. "If they don't see the transformation, they dont have any clue what is happening in Kerala society," he reminded.