The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made significant gains in various states, but one region remains elusive – the South. Despite increasing its footprint across the country, the party has struggled to make inroads in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Kerala.
With 22 out of 31 states and union territories under its control, the BJP has doubled its number of legislators since 2013. However, its attempts to gain a foothold in the South have been met with limited success, with the party winning only three seats in Kerala and one in Tamil Nadu.
Party leaders attribute the BJP's struggles in the South to a lack of connect with the local population, as well as a gap between the party's leadership and the ground-level cadre. The party's attempts to woo Christians in Kerala and Hindus in Tamil Nadu have also fallen flat.
Despite this, the BJP remains committed to expanding its presence in the South, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah emphasizing the need to dispel the impression that the party is a north Indian, Hindi-speaking entity.
