Does Suresh Gopi, Kerala’s only BJP MP and Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, still have a decisive influence on the Thrissur electorate? And can this influence help the BJP secure an assembly seat?
Mr. Gopi’s victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections with a huge margin of 74,840 votes marked a watershed moment for the BJP in Kerala. He thus capped a steady rise that began in 2021 when he took the party’s vote share in Thrissur to a record 31.3% despite finishing third, almost 12 percentage points higher than in 2016. He secured 40,457 votes, a sharp increase from the 24,748 votes polled by the BJP in 2016, signaling a significant expansion of the party’s base.
The BJP is now banking on this personal appeal to boost its Assembly prospects. This time the party has fielded Padmaja Venugopal, with Mr. Gopi supporting her campaign. The key question is whether his ability to attract votes can be transferred to another candidate.
Early signs point to a more complex picture. Earlier, the party had hoped that the “Suresh Gopi effect” would translate into the local body elections as well. Initiatives like ‘Kalungu Samvadam’ and ‘Coffee with SG’ were designed to deepen citizen engagement and sustain voter enthusiasm. But the results fell short of expectations.
Results of a public opinion poll
Despite going into the civic polls high on confidence after its Lok Sabha win, the NDA made only marginal improvement in Thrissur Corporation, increasing its tally from six seats in 2020 to eight. The much-anticipated breakthrough did not materialize, unlike in Thiruvananthapuram, where the party rules the Corporation.
The absence of a visible “wave” has since become a topic of debate. BJP leaders remain bullish. Mr. Gopi’s appeal, he says, is rooted in authenticity rather than conventional politics. “There is no politician who tries so hard to connect with ordinary people. He is genuine, without pretensions. People love him,” say party insiders, dismissing criticism as envy of his popularity.
Critics, however, present a starkly different story. Opposition leaders say Mr Gopi’s victory in the Lok Sabha was more personal than ideological – a one-off convergence of celebrity appeal and campaign momentum rather than a lasting shift towards the BJP.
Many controversies
They argue that the luster has since faded. Controversy dogged MPs. Accusations of “vote-stealing” and claims that he voted in different constituencies within a short period of time sparked political attacks. His public statements have often sparked debate, and opponents accuse him of an authoritarian tone that alienates him from ordinary voters.
Delays and confusion surrounding projects such as AIIMS, along with allegations of inaction on pressing issues such as the shortage of cooking gas — despite his role as Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas — have been used to cast doubt on his credibility.
There is also a shift in public perception with Mr. Gopi becoming one of the most trolled political figures in Kerala; critics say this is a sign that his once unquestioned popularity is now being tested.
Even so, it would be premature to write off Mr. Gopi. If Mr. Gopi’s influence holds, Thrissur could become the party’s major breakthrough in the Kerala Assembly. If not, it may reinforce the limits of personality-driven politics in a state where organizational depth and coalition arithmetic still rule.
Published – 21 March 2026 20:34 IST
