2024 Lok Sabha Election in Kerala: Anil Antony Expresses Hope for BJP, Says “Will Be Different”.

The Lok Sabha Election 2024 has brought attention to Kerala, a state known for its financial distress and massive anti-incumbency, as claimed by Anil Antony in an exclusive interview with NDTV. Kerala has historically favored Congress and Left-led alliances, with a notable absence of BJP candidates in its parliament.

However, in a surprising turn of events, Kerala re-elected Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for a second term in 2021. Anil Antony highlighted several factors that differentiate the current election from previous ones.

He pointed out the financial distress faced by the state and the widespread anti-incumbency across its 20 seats, creating an opportunity for the BJP to gain ground in the state. Antony also mentioned the shift in mood during the last election, triggered by the narrative that the UPA, with Rahul Gandhi, was winning.

Anil Antony, who recently switched from the Congress to the BJP, is expected to help the party expand its support base in Kerala, particularly among Christians. However, his decision to join the BJP drew criticism from senior Congress leaders, including his father, who expressed disapproval of his son’s political affiliation.

Anil Antony is contesting against Congress’s Anto Antony and the Left’s TM Thomas Issac in Pathanamthitta, causing a rift within the BJP and drawing mixed reactions from senior party members. Overall, Kerala’s political landscape is undergoing significant changes, with the BJP making efforts to establish itself in the state and upset the historical bipolarity of Congress and Left-led alliances.