On Tuesday morning as the counting for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 progressed, BJP's Kerala prabhari and former Union Minister Prakash Javadekar looked like a proud school headmaster celebrating his students' success in a board exam. He arrived at the BJP headquarters in Kerala, Mararji Bhawan, while both Suresh Gopi and Rajeev Chandrasekhar were leading in their respective constituencies and many other BJP candidates were delivering respectable competition.
Javadekar wore a saffron kurta and a Kerala mundu with saffron lining. The ease with which he wore the traditional Kerala mundu was a testament to how he absorbed Kerala's culture since taking on the Herculean task of securing at least one Lok Sabha seat in the southern state. Speaking to THE WEEK, he proclaimed that Kerala politics has changed forever. Below is an exclusive interaction with the leader:
Q: You've played an instrumental role in the BJP's success in Kerala. For the first time in history, the party has secured a Lok Sabha seat in the state. How do you feel about this achievement?
We have changed Kerala politics. That is our big success. For the first time, BJP has an MP in Kerala, NDA is returning for the third time and Modi ji will be Prime Minister for the third time. The BJP's Kerala success is because of PM Modi's vision, direction, focus and the way he has ensured last-mile delivery of benefits to 2 crore out of 3.5 crore people of Kerala. These benefits were distributed without discrimination.
As you know in Kerala, LDF or UDF select their own beneficiaries. Modi doesn't discriminate. Modi gives it to all and therefore people love him, and have faith in Modi's leadership. The diaspora population of Kerala has also told their families to vote for Modi because they are experiencing the rising esteem of India in other countries. Also, Modi ji took tough action against PFI. Banning PFI has made Christians also happy as they wanted action against them. This is what Modi ji has done, therefore this success.
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Q: Could you elaborate on your statement that Christians in Kerala were happy with the Modi government?
Christians in large numbers have voted for BJP because they want to be part of development. In 2019, they believed that Rahul Gandhi was the PM face but now everybody, including Rahul Gandhi, knows that he won't be PM.
Q: BJP won only one seat. But it improved vote share in a number of other seats in Kerala.
Yes, a tremendous increase. It's a huge difference. We have emerged as a third pole. Kerala was bipolar for 75 years. And we will make a difference in the days to come in principle elections, in assembly elections, everywhere. Kerala politics has changed forever.
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Q: Suresh Gopi won the seat for BJP and Rajeev Chandrashekhar gave a neck-to-neck fight to Shashi Tharoor. Chandrashekar had in fact taken a lead of over 25,000 at one point of time. Could you share what were some qualities you saw in these star candidates of the BJP?
Suresh Gopi, after last defeat in 2019, continuously worked for 5 years [in Thrissur]. It's a huge thing. So, whenever I went to Thrissur, people were saying that they were voting for Modi and Gopi. That was a factor in Chandrashekhar also. Modi and Chandrashekhar. So, he resonated with voters. That is the special thing. Rajiv Chandrashekhar is a very versatile entrepreneur and dedicated politician. He reached out to everybody, though he had only a little time.
