The BJP registered a notable breakthrough in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, winning three seats – Nemom, Kazhakkoottam, and Chathannoor – even as the Congress-led UDF swept to power in the state.
The results mark a significant milestone for the party, which has long struggled to gain a foothold in the southern state.
The Victories
Nemom (Thiruvananthapuram)
- Winner: Rajeev Chandrasekhar (BJP)
- Defeated: V Sivankutty (CPI(M))
- Margin: 3,590 votes
Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar secured victory in Nemom, a constituency in Thiruvananthapuram long considered the party’s strongest foothold in Kerala. He defeated CPI(M) veteran and minister V Sivankutty, while Congress’s young leader KS Sabarinathan finished third.
Kazhakkoottam (Thiruvananthapuram)
- Winner: V Muraleedharan (BJP)
Another former Union Minister, V Muraleedharan, also emerged victorious in Kazhakkoottam, marking another significant gain for the BJP in the Thiruvananthapuram region.
Chathannoor
- Winner: BB Gopakumar (BJP)
In Chathannoor, BJP candidate BB Gopakumar clinched the seat, defeating his rivals in a tightly contested race.
