Former Union Minister and technocrat-turned-politician Rajeev Chandrasekhar assumed office as the BJP’s state president on Monday, declaring his mission to bring the NDA government to power in Kerala, a state largely dominated by the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF.<\/p>\n

Addressing party workers, Mr Chandrasekhar stated that he had been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the BJP-led alliance to victory in the state and vowed to return only after achieving this goal.<\/p>\n

Expressing gratitude to party leaders and workers, Mr Chandrasekhar said he was proud to take on the role.<\/p>\n

“For entrusting me with this responsibility, I wholeheartedly thank my high command-Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president J P Nadda, and others,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I also extend my gratitude to all former state presidents and those who have sacrificed their lives for the party. Their dedication will serve as a guiding force in my journey ahead,” he added.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the BJP’s growing influence in Kerala, Mr Chandrasekhar highlighted the party’s performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections.<\/p>\n

“The BJP has always been a party of workers, and it will remain so in the future,” he stated.<\/p>\n

Criticising the Left government in Kerala, he questioned how long the state could survive by relying on debt.<\/p>\n

He asked why the state depends so heavily on loans, why students are compelled to go abroad for education, and why there is a lack of new initiatives.<\/p>\n

“Kerala’s development has stagnated. Challenges remain, but the BJP’s mission is to transform the state. Without opportunities, our youth will not stay. We need a Kerala that attracts investment and creates employment,” he said.<\/p>\n

Earlier, the party’s central observer, Pralhad Joshi, made the announcement during the BJP’s state council meeting.<\/p>\n

Mr Chandrasekhar was the sole nominee for the top post and had submitted two sets of nomination papers at the BJP headquarters on Sunday.<\/p>\n

At the time of the announcement, all prominent state BJP leaders, including outgoing president K Surendran and state in-charge Prakash Javadekar, were present.<\/p>\n

K Surendran formally handed over the party flag to Mr Chandrasekhar on stage.<\/p>\n

Mr Chandrasekhar urged party workers to take the message of development to every household, stressing that bringing the NDA to power in Kerala is crucial for progress.<\/p>\n

Concluding his speech, he quoted social reformer Sree Narayana Guru: “Progress through education, strength through organisation, and enrichment through effort.” During his address, Surendran said the BJP has witnessed unprecedented growth in Kerala over the past 10 years.<\/p>\n

Noting that Mr Chandrasekhar was unanimously elected to the top post, he asserted that the leader’s experience and expertise in various sectors would accelerate the BJP’s growth in the state.<\/p>\n

The former president also dismissed criticism that Mr Chandrasekhar is not a conventional politician, saying that he would excel in his new role.<\/p>\n

At 60, Mr Chandrasekhar brings two decades of political experience to the position. He has served as Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Jal Shakti.<\/p>\n

He has also been a Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka for three terms and served as the BJP’s national spokesperson. Additionally, he is the vice-chairman of the NDA’s Kerala unit.<\/p>\n

A well-known figure in Kerala, Mr Chandrasekhar contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Thiruvananthapuram as the NDA candidate but lost to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor by 16,077 votes.<\/p>\n

Born to Keralite parents in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Mr Chandrasekhar has family roots in Thrissur. His father-in-law is TPG Nambiar, the founder of the BPL Group.<\/p>\n

The election was held as K Surendran completed his five-year term as state president.<\/p>\n

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)<\/i><\/p>\n

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