By Nanditha Subhadra
In the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, Palakkad was supposed to be the BJP’s long-awaited breakthrough moment — a “safe” Hindu-majority seat, hyped for years as the party’s best chance in the state. The stage was set, the expectations were sky-high, and Shobha Surendran arrived with the air of a leader who had already won by a landslide. There was just one small problem: the voters had not been informed of this decision.
The result? Shobha lost to Congress candidate and actor Ramesh Pisharody by a neat margin of 13,147 votes (62,199 to 49,052). The “certain victory” turned out to be yet another chapter in an impressively consistent series.
What stood out during the campaign was Shobha’s supreme confidence. She campaigned as though the MLA’s chair was already reserved and the oath-taking ceremony was a mere formality. Speeches were delivered with the intensity of a victorious general addressing conquered territory. Unfortunately, the audience in Palakkad appeared to prefer a different script.
Shobha Surendran is widely admired in BJP circles for her fiery and energetic oratory. However, that same style often crosses into highly acidic territory. Political opponents are regularly described in colourful terms — “anti-nationals,” “poison-spitters,” and similar phrases that add plenty of spice to public discourse. In Palakkad, Ramesh Pisharody too received his share of sharp comments. While this approach draws loud cheers from committed supporters, it seems to leave many ordinary voters reaching for a glass of water rather than a ballot paper.
Even within the party, the campaign witnessed some internal heat. Reports emerged of a rather sharp exchange with Bindu Vinayakumar, a woman BJP leader from Alappuzha. When the acid flows generously towards colleagues as well, it sometimes makes winning over undecided voters that much more challenging.
A Long Series of Defeats
Palakkad 2026 was not an unexpected plot twist. It fits comfortably into a well-established pattern:
- 2004 Bye-election – Vadakkanchery: Third place.
- 2006 – Ponnani: Third place (margin ~48,000+ votes).
- 2009 – Ernakulam: Third place (~39,000 votes).
- 2011 – Puthukkad: Second place (lost by 58,000+ votes).
- 2016 – Palakkad: Lost to Shafi Parambil by 17,483 votes.
- 2021 – Kazhakoottam: Lost to Kadakampally Surendran by 23,497 votes.
- 2014 & 2019 Lok Sabha: Third place.
- 2024 Lok Sabha – Alappuzha: Lost to K.C. Venugopal by over 1 lakh votes.
- 2026 – Palakkad: Lost by 13,147 votes in the party’s much-talked-about “winning seat”.
The pattern is remarkably consistent. Vote shares may rise here and there, but the finishing line continues to move further away. It is almost an art form — turning highly favourable seats into moral victories.
Shobha Surendran possesses undeniable strengths — strong organisational skills, tireless campaigning, and the ability to deliver powerful speeches. Yet, time after time, the same aggressive and acidic style that energises the base seems to limit her ability to cross the threshold needed for victory in Kerala’s nuanced political landscape.
In the end, democratic politics has a gentle but firm way of teaching lessons. Voters, the real masters of the game, have once again reminded everyone that no seat is truly “safe” if the candidate campaigns as though the result has already been declared in their favour.
A friendly suggestion to Shobha Surendran: A touch more restraint, a little less acid, and a generous helping of warmth might go a long way. Politics rewards those who can combine firmness with approachability. When voters feel respected rather than lectured, they tend to respond more kindly at the ballot box.
The BJP’s journey in Kerala is still a work in progress. Palakkad 2026 offers an opportunity for honest reflection. After all, in politics, learning from experience is often more valuable than repeating the same high-volume script.
The voters have spoken — with their usual wisdom and a margin of 13,147. Whether that message is heard is now the next interesting chapter.
