BJP creates history in Kerala as V V Rajesh becomes Thiruvananthapuram mayor

Thiruvananthapuram: In a significant political development, BJP leader V.V. Rajesh has been elected as the Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram, creating history by becoming the first-ever BJP mayor in Kerala.

The development marks a major breakthrough for the Bharatiya Janata Party in a state traditionally dominated by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF).

The mayoral election was held on Thursday at the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, following the recently concluded local body elections in the state.

In the civic polls, the BJP delivered an impressive performance in the state capital by winning 50 out of the total 101 wards. This strong showing gave the party a clear edge and significantly altered the political landscape of the corporation.

Although the BJP fell short by one seat to secure a simple majority, the party managed to cross the halfway mark with the support of an independent councillor, taking its tally to 51. This support proved decisive in V.V. Rajesh’s victory in the mayoral election.

In the final vote count, Rajesh defeated his rivals convincingly. The LDF candidate secured 29 votes, while the UDF candidate managed to get 19 votes. With the backing of the independent member, Rajesh comfortably surpassed both opposition fronts to claim the mayor’s post.

Following his victory, V.V. Rajesh took oath as the Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram in the presence of senior BJP leaders. Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, along with prominent leaders K. Surendran and V. Muraleedharan, attended the swearing-in ceremony and hailed the result as a milestone moment for the party in Kerala.

Political observers have termed this victory historic, noting that this is the first time in over 40 years since the formation of the Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation that a BJP candidate has been elected as mayor. It is also the first instance of the BJP securing the mayor’s post in any major city corporation in Kerala.

Apart from Thiruvananthapuram, the BJP has also managed to gain power in other local bodies such as Tripunithura and Palakkad, indicating a growing footprint of the party in Kerala’s local governance. The result is being seen as a major boost for the BJP ahead of future electoral battles in the state.

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