The BJP in Kerala notched a tactical victory by formalizing an alliance with the rising Twenty20 Kizhakkambalam party, which is set to join the NDA ahead of the state assembly elections. The pact was finalized during a high-stakes Kochi summit between state BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Twenty20 leader Sabu M. Jacob.
Hailing from Kizhakkambalam in Ernakulam, Twenty20 is entering mainstream politics for the first time through this NDA integration. The move gains added momentum with PM Modi’s impending Friday visit to Thiruvananthapuram, potentially featuring Jacob alongside him on stage—a clear sign of the partnership’s stature.
Talks intensified recently, building on Jacob’s prior meetings with Amit Shah. Chandrasekhar’s persistent efforts bore fruit in the pivotal Thursday session. BJP strategists see this as vital for penetrating Ernakulam, a district where the saffron party has built grassroots support but faltered at the hustings.
Jacob highlighted synergies with the NDA’s development-focused agenda, reflecting shared values. In a state long gripped by LDF and UDF rivalries, this tie-up helps BJP tap into Twenty20’s appeal among local communities, especially Christians, through its welfare initiatives.
Local elections paint a patchy picture for Twenty20: triumphant in Aikarapadanna with all seats won, yet stumbling in Kizhakkambalam with just 14 panchayat seats. It lost ground in Kunnathunad and Mazhuvannoor but held firm in Thiruvaniyoor, where rivals LDF and UDF united behind single candidates to dilute its sway.
As Kerala braces for electoral showdowns, this alliance injects uncertainty into entrenched dynamics, promising vigorous campaigns and shifting voter alignments in Ernakulam and beyond.