Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: BJP bets big on Christian votes, names seven candidates from community in two lists

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) fielding seven Christian candidates for the Kerala elections reflects the party’s gamble to woo the Christian community in the state, traditionally supporters of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).

According to the 2011 Census, Christians constitute about 18.4% of Kerala’s population.

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In its two candidate lists so far, the BJP has selected Union Minister George Kurian from Kanjirappally, PC George from Poonjar, Anoop Antony Joseph from Thiruvalla, Shone George from Pala, Lijoy Paul from Mankada, Bijoy Thomas from Ollur and MJ Job from Alappuzha.

As part of its strategy, the BJP has been raising issues related to the Christian community, including extending support to the community in the Munambam land case, which involved a dispute between the Wakf Board and the locals. The state BJP intervened constructively after two nuns were arrested in Chhattisgarh on charges of human trafficking without evidence. Interestingly, the party stayed away from major issues in northern India, sale and consumption of beef and other dietary measures.

But will nominations and outreach programs enable the party to overcome its Hindutva image in the diverse state?

To talk HinduMr Joseph, BJP State general secretary and Thiruvalla candidate, termed the characterization of the BJP as communal as “ironic”.

“It is an irony that the BJP is seen as the party of a certain section of Kerala, while the BJP is the true secular party of Kerala.Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas‘ Prime Minister Modi’s. Here in Kerala, a party named after a particular religion, such as the Indian Union Muslim League, is called a secular party, while a BJP with ‘janata’ (people) in its name is called a communal party. “This narrative has been created by the Congress and the CPI(M) to polarize the minority votes,” he said.

Mr. Joseph said the BJP’s efforts to win the support of the Christian community was clearly seen in Union Minister Suresh Gopi’s victory in the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat. “Community votes will be the reason for BJP’s victory in these polls,” he said.

The BJP leader said the Congress was “rudderless” in the state and would pay the price for neglecting the problems of the Christian community.

Mr. Joseph is considered one of the Christian faces projected by the BJP; He is not a newcomer, but has gone through the party organization. He was the national secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha team and is also in charge of the Modi archive project, which digitally collects oral and written records related to the life of Prime Minister Modi.

The BJP had to be irrational about its strategy in Kerala after its success in the Hindi-speaking states in northern India. A new playbook in the state has been waiting for a long time to lay the framework for the execution that will be tested in these Assembly polls.