BJP makes history in Kerala, VV Rajesh elected party’s first mayor in Thiruvananthapuram

In a historic development in Kerala’s political landscape, BJP leader VV Rajesh was on Friday elected as the mayor of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. This is the first time that the BJP has won the Mayor’s post in Kerala.

Rajesh won the mayoral election held at the Corporation office here by securing 51 votes in the 101-member council. He secured half the votes with the support of an independent councilor.

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Rajesh’s election marks a significant breakthrough for the BJP in Kerala, which has been dominated by the CPI-M-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF. In the recent local body polls, the BJP has secured a historic majority in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, ending the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) uninterrupted control of the state capital since 1980. The BJP’s victory in Thiruvananthapuram is a major setback for the LDF, which had controlled the corporation for nearly 40 years.

Senior leaders like BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union minister Suresh Gopi, former Union Minister V Muraleedharan, and former state presidents CK Padmanabhan, Kummanam Rajeekharan, and K Surendran were present at the Corporation office for the election. Rajesh was then sworn in as the mayor.

A graduate in law, VV Rajesh is currently serving as the state secretary of the BJP. This is his second term as a councillor of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. Previously, he had served as the Thiruvananthapuram district president of the BJP.

He hails from Karipur near Nedumangad in Thiruvananthapuram. His wife, Nithya S. Nair, is a former IT employee.

In his address to the media after the party announced his candidature on Thursday, Rajesh said that the party will strive to make Thiruvananthapuram one of the best three cities in the country.

“A strong opposition will do good. We will take them into confidence,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit the city within 45 days. Meanwhile, reports said the Prime Minister is expected to arrive in Thiruvananthapuram by the end of January. He is likely to announce a development plan for the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation aimed at developing the city, and also hold a separate meeting with councillors.

The BJP’s ‘Vision 2030’ manifesto, released before the local body elections, promises to transform the capital of Thiruvananthapuram into a model Indian city, potentially including proposals for an AIIMS, a metro rail, and an outer ring road.