Kerala local body polls: Can Lok Sabha wave meet local body reality in Thrissur?
Can the “Suresh Gopi effect” that reshaped Kerala’s election story now redraw the political map of Thrissur Corporation? Have the much-publicized outreach sessions from Kalungu Samvadam to SG Coffee Times really built political capital? And will the Bharatiya Janata Party be able to repeat its spectacular Lok Sabha breakthrough, in which Mr. Gopi made unprecedented inroads among the Corporation divisions?
These questions are dominating Thrissur’s political conversation – just a year after the actor-turned-politician shattered Kerala’s electoral equations.
Mr Gopi’s landslide Lok Sabha victory – a staggering margin of 74,840 votes – was celebrated as a turning point not just for Thrissur but also for the BJP in Kerala. This was the party’s first Lok Sabha seat in the state; This was achieved by a man who stormed the strongholds of both the Left Democratic Front and the United Democratic Front with the same fire he once used on the big screen.
Earlier, in the 2021 Assembly polls, Mr. Gopi had increased the BJP’s vote share in Thrissur to an all-time high of 31.3%, nearly 12 points above the 2016 figure. The BJP, which has six seats in the Corporation Council, hopes to capitalize on this momentum and expand its footprint in the Corporation. Party leaders insist that the “Suresh Gopi wave” remains intact.
“There is no politician who has made as much effort to connect with the common people,” said former BJP district secretary and State vice-president KK Aneesh Kumar. “He’s a genuine guy, unpretentious. People love him. His critics are just jealous of his popularity.”
BJP strategists point to the Lok Sabha results in which Mr. Gopi won a majority in 35 of Thrissur Corporation’s 55 divisions. “Majority of 27-28 seats is enough to rule the Corporation. It is not an arduous task,” Mr. Kumar said.
But beneath this confidence lies an emerging counter-narrative.
A section of political observers insist that Mr. Gopi’s Lok Sabha victory was personal and not an ideological endorsement of the BJP. And more importantly, they say, the image that fueled his victory has suffered visible collapses in the months since.
The flashpoint is Kalungu Samvadam; Mr. Gopi’s flagship streaming show, which ironically turned into a political misfire.
The trouble started in the first incident in Pullu, Thrissur, when Mr. Gopi appeared harsh to an old man who asked for help in repairing his crumbling house. “This is not my job,” he said as he returned the petition without opening it; This moment was captured on video and widely disseminated.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) immediately stepped in and promised to build a new house for the man. “This was a cruel imperious behavior unbecoming of a public representative,” CPI(M) district secretary KV Abdul Khadar said. “Mr. Gopi repeatedly treats people seeking help with disdain.”
Another viral clip showed Mr. Gopi brutally dismissing a woman who was suffering from her lost savings in the Karuvannur Cooperative Bank scam. More such episodes followed and Kalungu Samvadam gradually turned into a symbol of disconnection rather than accessibility.
“There has never been a politician trolled this much in Kerala,” said a political observer. The reaction became even sharper when Mr. Gopi addressed the citizens thus: Praguea term that critics have called feudal and tone-deaf.
Yet Mr. Gopi remains defiant. “People are actually looking forward to these hearings,” he said, directing the criticism at political opponents. Asked if he “still acts like movie characters”, he replied: “Why would I go out of it? People love these characters”, even drawing parallels with on-screen cult cop Bharathchandran IPS.
Congressional leaders say the veneer is slipping.
“This is a smokescreen to hide the allegations of vote theft and his underwhelming performance as MP and minister,” Thrissur DCC president Joseph Tajet said. “There are no consequences, no real conversation; just showmanship. His arrogance alienates people. The popularity he had during the Lok Sabha elections is dwindling fast.”
For now, the BJP maintains that Mr. Gopi remains its strongest presence, while the Opposition argues that he has become its own political foil.
As Thrissur enters a crucial social struggle, one question looms larger than ever: Will the ‘Suresh Gopi effect’ take the BJP forward, or has the tide already started receding?
It was published – 26 November 2025 09:43 IST
