Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the upcoming Kerala assembly polls are not merely for changing the government, but to improve the state's future.
The senior BJP leader made the remarks as the state prepares for its legislative assembly elections. Shah's comments suggest the party's focus extends beyond electoral victory to broader developmental goals for Kerala.
Kerala, located in southern India, has historically alternated between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) led by the Indian National Congress. The BJP has traditionally held a smaller presence in the state's political landscape.
The assembly elections will determine the composition of Kerala's 140-member legislative assembly. The state has been governed by the LDF under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan since 2016.
Shah's statement comes as the BJP continues its efforts to expand its political footprint in southern Indian states, where the party has faced challenges in gaining significant electoral traction compared to its performance in northern and western regions of the country.
The exact timing of the Kerala assembly elections has not been announced by the Election Commission of India, though the current assembly's term is scheduled to end in 2021.
