Kerala’s political landscape shifted Thursday as Twenty20 Kizhakkambalam officially pledged to join the BJP-led NDA, a strategic masterstroke for the alliance ahead of assembly polls. The deal was inked in Kochi following intense discussions between BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and the party’s founder Sabu M. Jacob.
This is Twenty20’s debut foray into a national front, originating from the Kizhakkambalam panchayat in Ernakulam district. The alliance arrives amid heightened buzz, coinciding with PM Modi’s scheduled arrival in Thiruvananthapuram, where Jacob may join him publicly, amplifying the partnership’s visibility.
Backchannel negotiations, including Jacob’s parleys with Amit Shah, paved the way. Chandrasekhar’s diplomacy sealed the accord. For BJP, it’s a calculated bid to fortify its Ernakulam footprint, transforming organizational strength into votes in a region resistant to saffron advances.
Emphasizing common ground on progressive governance, Jacob endorsed the NDA model. The BJP seeks to challenge LDF-UDF hegemony by leveraging Twenty20’s hyper-local popularity, particularly its service-oriented ethos appealing to Christian voters.
Twenty20’s poll scorecard shows highs and lows: a total victory in Aikarapadanna locals, but a rude shock in Kizhakkambalam with merely 14 seats. It ceded Kunnathunad and Mazhuvannoor, retaining clout in Thiruvaniyoor despite LDF-UDF’s joint strategy of unified nominees.
Expect ripples statewide, with this union potentially upending seat projections and igniting discourse on alternative coalitions in Kerala’s fiercely contested arena.