Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar is contesting from Nemom, a constituency widely seen as the party’s gateway to the Kerala Assembly and a key test of its revival prospects in the state.

Nemom, which covers parts of Thiruvananthapuram city and its outskirts, made history in 2016 by electing O Rajagopal as the BJP’s first and only MLA in Kerala. However, the party lost the seat in 2021, reflecting shifting voter alignments among the BJP, the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF.

Chandrasekhar enters the fray against a formidable lineup — CPI(M) leader, general education minister and sitting MLA V Sivankutty, and former Congress MLA KS Sabarinathan —making it one of the most closely watched contests in the state.

Despite his Kerala roots, Chandrasekhar was long perceived as an outsider to the state’s political landscape. His profile rose sharply during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when he was fielded against Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram. Though he lost, his high-intensity campaign significantly reduced the margin of defeat and repositioned the BJP as a more competitive force. Notably, Nemom emerged as his strongest Assembly segment, where he secured over 45% of the vote.

Following this, Chandrasekhar was appointed state BJP president and tasked with rebuilding the party’s organisational strength. Since taking charge, he has focused on centralising decision-making, sharpening message discipline and improving coordination within the party ranks. His early announcement to contest from Nemom, well before the election schedule, signalled the BJP’s intent to prioritise the seat.

The party is now banking on Chandrasekhar’s leadership and recent electoral momentum to reclaim Nemom, even as the constituency continues to reflect Kerala’s evolving and unpredictable political currents.

The contest has not been without controversy. A political row erupted over Chandrasekhar’s election affidavit, with the Congress alleging that he had omitted details of a high-value property in Bengaluru, an accusation that added another layer of scrutiny to an already high-stakes battle.

Candidate Info: Rajeev Chandrasekhar is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate contesting from Nemom (General) Assembly constituency for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections. This male candidate is 62 years of age, according to the election affidavit submitted to the Election Commission of India.