The decision of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to hold its first-ever critical coordination meeting in Palakkad, Kerala, is deeply symbolic. While it reflects the Sangh’s efforts to bridge the gap between North and South, Palakkad is also one of the districts in the state that has recently seen a saffron surge despite the dominance of Communists and Congress.
In Palakkad, tucked in a quaint corner of Kerala, over 30 RSS swayamsevaks have been killed in political violence. The choice of venue underscores the RSS’s resolve to assert its presence in Kerala, particularly in a region where it has faced relentless hostility, including from the PFI (Popular Front of India) that is now banned by the government.
According to a senior RSS functionary, the meeting marks not just a strategic move but a defiant statement of the Sangh’s resilience and determination to expand its influence in the southern-most state. “The backdrop of the three-day Akhil Bharatiya Samanvaya Baithak, which started on Saturday, is the important moments in the history of Kerala Renaissance and the expressions of Kerala identity. Pictures of Adi Shankaracharya, Shankara Stupa at Kaladi, Sree Narayana Gurudeva in the background of Sivagiri and Naranath Bhrantan of Parajipeta Panthirukulam graced the stage on the opening day,” he said.
“Pandit Karuppan’s backwater conference, Mahatma-ji’s visit to Vaikom Satyagraha agitation venue, Mahatma Ayyankali’s bullock cart strike, freedom struggle led by Pazhassi Raja and the tribal people in the Northern Kerala, the courageous war of Veluthambi in Travancore, and the victory of Marthandavarma in the battle of Colachel will be the background of the venue in the following days,” he added.
Courting Palakkad’s Diverse Communities
Palakkad is the only district in Kerala where the BJP has won in the Palakkad municipality, one of six civic bodies in the district. Palakkad municipality has 52 seats and the party is ruling now after winning 28 in the 2020 civic elections.
KM Haridas, the BJP district president in Palakkad is, however, navigating a complex political landscape as the party works to strengthen its foothold in a region marked by diverse religious communities and rising tensions. The district, which encompasses 88 panchayats and seven municipalities, has seen significant BJP activity, with 122 panchayat members and 28 ward members spread across the municipality area.
The Christian community in Palakkad and in other places has been increasingly anxious, particularly with the spectre of ‘love jihad’ and a series of murders in the past two years contributing to a climate of fear, Haridas told News18, sitting in the renovated and swanky district office of the party.
The community, which comprises a significant portion of the population, has traditionally leaned away from BJP. However, this year, it is estimated that a good percentage from the community voted for the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, said S Padmanavan, another senior leader of the party in the district.
Community Outreach
Palakkad is home to 176 churches, serving a wide array of Christian denominations. The Roman Catholic community alone has 26,000 families, while the Orthodox Church has 21 churches with 4,000 families. Additionally, the Mar Thoma Church, with 15 churches, supports 3,000 families, and the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, with 10 churches, includes 2,000 families.
In an effort to foster goodwill, BJP members, under Haridas’s leadership, have been engaging with these communities during key religious festivals, such as Easter and Christmas, by making home visits and sharing cakes. Similar outreach efforts have been made to the Muslim community during Ramadan and Eid, said Padmanabhan.
“Palakkad is also the site of a Smart City initiative, reflecting the district’s growing significance. As we continue with this outreach, the party’s strategies will likely focus on addressing the concerns of these religious communities while expanding its influence in the district,” said Haridas.