By Suresh Unnithan
It is a stroke of bad luck for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala. The man who brought a historic electoral breakthrough, actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi, who secured the party’s first-ever Lok Sabha seat from Thrissur in the 2024 general elections, is increasingly becoming unpopular due to his toxic comments and perceived arrogance toward the public. Once hailed as a game-changer for the saffron party in a state dominated by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and United Democratic Front (UDF), Gopi’s tenure as Union Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum has spiraled into a series of controversies, transforming him from a star asset into a significant liability. His vitriolic outbursts, dismissive attitude, and failure to connect with constituents are now threatening the BJP’s hard-earned gains and its electoral prospects in the upcoming local body elections in late 2025 and the 2026 assembly polls.
Gopi’s troubles began surfacing soon after his elevation to the Union cabinet, and intensified regularly, thanks to his vitriolic comments and unbridled arrogance. Critics point to his rude and unsavory comments, particularly toward vulnerable groups like elders and scam victims, as emblematic of his detachment from ground realities. For instance, in a recent incident, Gopi faced backlash for his dismissive response to a senior citizen’s plea for assistance, telling the elderly man that housing is a state subject and he couldn’t make “false promises.” This episode sparked outrage from civil society and opposition parties, painting him as insensitive and out of touch. Similarly, when a woman affected by the Karuvannur bank scam approached him about her inability to withdraw deposits, Gopi curtly directed her to the Chief Minister instead of offering support, further fueling accusations of arrogance. Such interactions have not only alienated individual voters but have also amplified perceptions of Gopi as an “absentee MP,” with opposition groups like the Kerala Students’ Union (KSU) even filing satirical “missing person” complaints to highlight his infrequent presence in Thrissur.
Compounding these issues is Gopi’s strained relationship with influential communities that once backed him. During the 2024 elections, support from sections of the Christian community, including the Church, played a crucial role in his narrow victory in Thrissur, a constituency with a significant Christian population. However, his recent actions—or lack thereof—have turned this alliance antagonistic. Gopi has come under fire from the LDF and Church representatives for his silence on the arrest of two Kerala nuns in BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh, an incident involving allegations of religious conversion that drew sharp reactions from the Catholic Church. Despite later visiting one nun’s family to offer support, the initial reticence was seen as a betrayal, especially amid broader criticisms of the BJP’s handling of minority issues. This fallout has eroded the goodwill the BJP had cultivated, with Church leaders and community members expressing disillusionment that could cost the party dearly in Christian-dominated areas.
The internal ramifications for the BJP are equally concerning. Once hailed as a crowd-puller whose celebrity status boosted the party’s visibility, Gopi is now described by insiders as a “double-edged sword” and a “headache” for the Kerala unit. His maverick behavior, including controversial remarks on caste and labeling Kerala as “backward” to secure central funds, has put the central leadership and state BJP in a tight spot, drawing flak even from within the party. A year into his term, reports indicate a growing voter trust deficit in Thrissur, with Gopi’s “absent” and “rude” demeanor hindering the BJP’s efforts to expand its footprint. Ongoing controversies, such as allegations of voter list manipulation and fake registrations in Thrissur, have further tarnished his image, prompting protests from both BJP workers and opposition parties like CPI(M).
Party observers speculate that if Gopi’s attitude persists, it could lead to a dip of over 3% in the BJP’s vote share in the upcoming elections, reversing the steady growth trajectory the party had been on. The Kerala BJP, which was eyeing gains in local body polls to build momentum for the 2026 assembly elections, now faces the risk of setbacks due to this self-inflicted damage. Senior leaders have urged restraint, but Gopi’s loose cannon approach continues to dominate headlines, from his involvement in the Thrissur Pooram festival disruptions to legal challenges over election affidavits.
In essence, Suresh Gopi’s transformation from electoral hero to political spoiler underscores a cautionary tale for the BJP in Kerala. While his star power initially opened doors, his unchecked outbursts and perceived detachment are now closing them, potentially derailing the party’s ambitions in a state where every percentage point counts. Unless the leadership reins him in or sidelines him from key campaigns, Gopi’s legacy may well be remembered not as the pioneer of BJP’s Kerala chapter, but as the one who squandered its future.