NDA will contest 2026 Kerala Assembly election to form govt: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday (July 12) said that the BJP-led NDA will contest the 2026 Kerala assembly election to form a government in the state. Addressing a gathering of party workers at a ward-level leadership meeting at Putharikandam Maidan, Shah also said that if the people of Kerala want to usher in change in the state, the CPI(M)-led LDF and Congress-led UDF would not be able to fulfil their aspirations.

'LDF, UDF can’t bring change'

Shah alleged that successive LDF, UDF governments turned Kerala into heaven for anti-national forces, adding that Vikasit Bharat was not possible without the development of strong southern states.

“It's more important to make the BJP state office a centre of Vikasit Kerala than having the CM in government,” said Shah as quoted by PTI.

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'Vikasit Keralam'

He also said that the route to 'Vikasit Bharat' goes through 'Vikasit Keralam' only.

"Therefore, from now on, the basic aim of the BJP will be a 'Vikasit Keralam'," added Shah.

Earlier in the day, the Union Home Minister inaugurated the new BJP state committee office, Mararji Bhavan, ahead of launching the party's campaign for the upcoming local body polls this year and the assembly elections next year.

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Tributes to late former BJP president

Shah, who arrived in Kerala late Friday night, also paid floral tributes to a bronze half-bust of the late former BJP state president K G Marar, which has been installed in the central hall of the new building.

He was accompanied by BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and other senior leaders of the party's Kerala unit while he took a tour of the new building.

Later in the afternoon, Shah will take part in a closed-door BJP state leadership meeting, where discussions will focus on preparations for the upcoming local body elections in Kerala.

He is expected to leave Thiruvananthapuram by 4 pm for Kannur, where he will visit the famous Rajarajeshwara Temple in Taliparamba before returning to Delhi, according to his itinerary released by the party.

(With agency inputs)