Will Waqf Bill Passage Help BJP Make Inroads in Kerala Politics? K Surendran Says ’Giving Undue Preference to Muslims...’

Kerala Politics: After more than 29 hours of discussion, finally the Waqf Bill was passed from both houses of Parliament. The President has also given her approval to the bill. The government says the bill aims to regulate the flaws in the Waqf Board, the opposition, however, still has reservations. Amidst all the discussion on the bill, Kerala BJP’s senior leader Surendran’s remarks on the minority voters have sparked a new debate in Kerala politics.
Surendran says “Christians have lost faith in UDF, LDF over Waqf Bill row.” All this started when, hours after the passing of the Waqf Bill, more than 50 minority Christians joined the BJP. Most of these were from Munambam, where Kerala State Waqf Board has staked claim to 400 acres of coastal village land. Will this dissent against LDF and UDF help the BJP in making inroads into Kerala politics?

Why are Christians Unhappy with LDF and UDF? How Can this Help BJP?

Around 600 families, most of them Christians, have been protesting for the last 174 days at the coastal village. All this started after the State Waqf Board staked claim to the 400 acres of land that they have been living in for generations. And 50 of these joined the BJP hours after the Bill to regulate the board was passed.
A big chunk of these voters joined the BJP after the Waqf Bill was passed. BJP’s newly appointed State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar, after visiting Munambam, said, “This is an important day in the state’s political history. This agitation has given strength to the Prime Minister and Parliament to pass the amendment Bill. We will be with you until you get back revenue rights over the land. This Bill has the power to give back the revenue rights of your land. The people of Munambam have been betrayed by MPs and MLAs who they had elected. But their voice reached Parliament and it is a shining moment for Indian democracy.”
The Christian community of Kerala has been vocal about the undue preference given to the Muslims for very long. Both LDF and UDF governments have been under the scrutiny of Christians. If Muslim appeasement continues in Kerala politics, the community can search for new leadership and the BJP is banking their future electoral prospects on this.

How important are Christian voters in Kerala politics?

Christians are the second biggest minority in Kerala after Muslims, who make up 26 percent of the population. Christians are 18.4 percent of the total voter base. Many from the community can shift towards the BJP as they got the Waqf Bill cleared from Parliament.
Like in Munambam, many in Kerala may bank the BJP if appeasement continues in Kerala politics. As of now, Christians constitute a major voter base for both LDF and UDF. But the community also noted the absence of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra during the debate on the Waqf Bill. Pinarayi’s government is also facing strong anti-incumbency. Recently, CPM leader M.A. Baby was elected as the General Secretary of CPM (only second after E.M.S. Namboodiripad from Kerala).

Where does BJP stand in Kerala politics and what is the road ahead?

RSS has a strong presence in coastal Kerala and the organisation has long been trying to make ground for BJP. BJP got 19.6 percent votes in the last Lok Sabha elections and managed to win a seat for the first time.
BJP also made Rajeev Chandrasekhar the president of the state unit. If the party somehow manages to get into the Christian vote bank, it can be problematic for both LDF and UDF in the 2026 state assembly polls.