Latest news with #RajeevChandrasekhar
The Print
3 days ago
- Business
- The Print
A Malayalee from Gujarat is shaking up Kerala BJP. Rajeev Chandrasekhar's un-Sangh poll campaign
In his campaign mode, the Malayalee politician from Gujarat is not just trying to familiarise himself with his roots, but also making an effort to leave his technocrat footprint on the state—where the BJP is yet to find a firm footing—for rising beyond 'underdevelopment and misgovernance'. As Kerala heads to the local body polls scheduled in December, before the all-important state elections early next year, the former Union minister is focusing on a campaign focused on 'Viksit Keralam' with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's schemes as its pivots while projecting a more inclusive perception of the BJP. Thiruvanthapuram: When Rajeev Chandrasekhar became the BJP's Kerala chief in March, it was a break from the usual dyed-in-the wool Sangh background leader taking over the responsibility. Three months on, the businessman-turned-politician is moving ahead with a strategy visibly different from his predecessors. Before his political career took flight in 2006, when he was elected to the Rajya Sabha representing Karnataka, Chandrasekhar had worked with tech companies, including Intel and Softech. He has a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and a Master's in computer science from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. In 1994, after returning to India, he founded BPL Mobile, one of the country's earliest and largest mobile cellular networks. Nearly three decades later in 2021, he was appointed Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The BJP leader, however, lost to Shashi Tharoor last year in Thiruvananthapuram. One of his first major events Chandrasekhar organised after taking over from was the launch of the 'Viksit Keralam convention' across the party's 30 organisational districts. A team of over 600 functionaries, dubbed Team Vikasita Keralam, oversaw the campaign, which targeted the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) over alleged misgovernance. At the State Office Bearers meeting of BJP's 'Team Vikasita Keralam' held today at Mararji Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram. Senior party leaders and key functionaries from across the state participated in the meeting, which focused on sharpening organizational strategy and… — Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) July 18, 2025 At the same time, they highlighted the Modi government's development schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana aimed at providing easy access to credit for small business owners and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) that looks to improve rural road connectivity. This month, Chandrasekhar expanded the effort further by setting up help desks in all district headquarters, reportedly the first in BJP, to ensure that awareness on central schemes reach every citizen. 'All BJP district and constituency offices will function as public service centres. This is not politics, the aim is to deliver development,' he said inaugurating the initiative last week, adding that these help desks will soon be available as an app on BJP workers' phones, enabling citizens to learn about and access various schemes or file complaints. Political analyst and former journalist K.P. Sethunath highlighted that this was the first time that a technocrat was appointed as the Kerala party chief instead of a conventional politician. 'Earlier, the BJP state chief always had a core RSS background. Now, anti-minority rhetoric has been scaled down by them. They don't need the BJP to do it anymore; fringe elements will,' he told ThePrint. Though Chandrasekhar has been not able to inculcate a Malayalee image, he said, the campaign might convince many to go for a change in the southern state. Sethunath said the BJP campaign would target Kerala's urban middle class, particularly upper-caste and upper-class voters disillusioned with LDF and UDF. However, he added that the BJP might have to defend this campaign as its Viksit Bharat initiative is currently receiving setbacks due to its efficiency and outcomes. The eroding Modi magic in the national level could also impact the party's prospects as Chandrasekhar's campaign was solely focussed on 'Modi vision' for India, he asserted. BJP general secretary Renu Suresh said Chandrasekhar's appointment signaled the Centre's serious intent to grow in Kerala. 'He has close ties with the central government and understands their initiatives well. That helps in coordination,' she said, adding that the party's developmental focus aligns with his leadership. Also Read: RSS to Raj Bhavan via Goa BJP, now amid 'Bharat Mata' image row—tracing Kerala Governor Arlekar's journey Litmus test ahead While heading the party's campaign, the first step for the Kerala BJP chief to prove himself is the upcoming local body polls. The party's focus on the local body polls was also visible on Saturday when Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state to address ward-level functionaries. Currently, BJP controls two municipalities and 19 gram panchayats. Kerala has a total of 1,200 local bodies encompassing 6 municipal corporations, 87 municipalities, 14 district panchayats, 152 block panchayats, and 941 gram panchayats Keeping Chandrasekhar close to him on the stage, Shah said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will contest in 21,000 locations and ensure its presence at every booth with more than 25 percent of the vote share. The pitch was Viksit Kerala, which, he said, would be impossible without the BJP and the NDA. 'The foundation of this vision rests on three key principles of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji: first, governance without corruption; second, no discrimination in the implementation of government schemes; and third, a commitment to Kerala's development, rising above vote bank politics,' Shah said. Many party leaders said Chandrasekhar's arrival has energised grassroots workers. 'It was his idea to focus on grassroots cadre-building. Now, responsibilities have been clearly assigned to both new and old members,' said Renu. She also acknowledged that the party was previously seen as inactive between elections but is now increasing its public outreach ahead of the local polls. In each booth, a three-member committee has been set up to ensure coordination and leadership roles for local cadres, a party functionary from Ernakulam said. BJP general secretary Anoop Antony told ThePrint the party is aiming to capture power in Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur municipal corporations, along with several municipalities and dozens of gram panchayats. This confidence stems from BJP's performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Chandrasekhar improved the party's vote share in Thiruvananthapuram from 31.30 percent in 2019 to 35.52 percent, while actor-politician Suresh Gopi secured BJP's first-ever Lok Sabha seat from Thrissur. Imprint on Kerala unit On 12 July, the party appointed 10 vice-presidents, including former IPS officer R. Sreelekha, K.S. Radhakrishnan, C. Sadanandan Master, Advocate B. Gopalakrishnan, Shone George, M. Abdul Salam, K. Soman, K.K. Aneesh Kumar, C. Krishnakumar, and P. Sudheer. Four general secretaries were named: M.T. Ramesh, Sobha Surendran, Adv. S. Suresh, and Anoop Antony Joseph. Three Christians—George, Joseph and secretary Jiji Joseph—were included in the BJP state committee members, signalling the party's long-term efforts to woo the community. Sobha Surendran, who had publicly criticised K. Surendran and was previously excluded from his core committee, has now been inducted as a vice-president and a core committee member. Meanwhile, a former state committee member who was recently embroiled in a 'half-price' scam, has been dropped. BJP leaders told ThePrint that despite the reshuffle, internal tussles have been minimal. However, they acknowledged that a more 'inclusive' leadership profile is essential for electoral success. 'To come to power in Kerala, we need Christian and Muslim votes. While the Muslims remain reluctant, we are seeing a strong Christian participation, which should be reflected in leadership, too,' a senior party leader told ThePrint. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: Legs hacked by Left supporters, how RS entrant Sadanandan's case played out in the courts
Scroll.in
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Flagging security concerns about Aadhaar, Parliamentary panel asks UIDAI to review database
Flagging concerns about the safety of the biometric data of Aadhaar holders, the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament on Thursday asked the Unique Identification Authority of India to carry out a scientific review of its central database, reported Deccan Herald. The Unique Identification Authority of India is a statutory body set up under the Aadhaar Act, 2016, to issue 12-digit unique identity numbers to residents of India. The multi-party panel, headed by Congress MP KC Venugopal, issued the directions to UIDAI while examining the functioning of the statutory body based on a 2021 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. During the meeting, the panel also raised concerns about the high rate of biometric authentication failures in the Aadhaar system, which has led to beneficiaries being excluded from welfare schemes. After several MPs on the panel flagged recent reports of Aadhaar data leaks, UIDAI claimed that the Central Identities Data Repository, which stores all biometric and demographic information, is secure, The Hindu quoted unidentified officials as saying. The statutory body added that data breaches reported so far have originated from enrollment centres. It reportedly said that it had strengthened the monitoring mechanism at the centres. In January, personal data such as Aadhaar details and mobile phone numbers of nearly 75 crore Indians was allegedly put up for sale online, said digital threat analysis company CloudSek in a report. Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar had in December said that there have been 165 breaches of data of Indian citizens between January 2018 and October 2023. Chandrasekhar claimed that no breach of Aadhaar data has occurred from the Central Identities Data Repository. However, in January 2018, The Tribune claimed to have 'purchased' a 'service being offered by anonymous sellers over WhatsApp' for 'unrestricted access' to details of the more than one billion Aadhaar holders.
Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Delhi Confidential: Image change
The revamped Kerala BJP leadership announced by state unit chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar reflects the party's attempt at an image change ahead of the local body elections this year and Assembly polls next year. For instance, it has a Muslim vice-president in the state for the first time. And with the BJP eyeing Christian votes, Chandrashekhar has included three from the community in his team: a general secretary, a vice president and a secretary. Of the total 24 office bearers, seven belong to OBC communities, three are from Scheduled Castes and one is from a Scheduled Tribe. With the national leadership urging Chandrasekhar to infuse fresh energy, he has also appointed seven youngsters and one four women. Uniform Rule Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora has asked his officers to be in uniform whenever they speak to reporters. The directive came after he found several officers addressing the media in civilian clothing. He said police credibility is significantly enhanced when they are seen in uniform.
The Hindu
13-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala BJP chief rejects reports of discontent among leaders over party revamp
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Sunday (July 13, 2025) rejected reports of discontent among some leaders over the recent organisational revamp in the State unit, saying that fresh faces coming into party posts is a natural phenomenon. In the BJP, everyone is equal regardless of status or position, and all leaders work unitedly as a team with the sole objective of 'Viksit Keralam' (Developed Kerala) he told reporters here. He also made it clear that no leader will be left without any responsibility in the party's State unit. 'New people coming to party positions and existing leaders getting fresh responsibilities is a natural phenomenon. We are all working with the sole objective to realise Viksit Keralam,' Mr. Chandrasekhar said while replying to a question. He also said there was no need for leaders to get disappointed seeing the process. 'There is no concern or worry for any leader in our party in this regard. We are working as a team,' the BJP State chief added. The senior leader's remarks came amidst media reports that a section of leaders in the BJP State unit were unhappy over the new changes made as part of the organisational revamp. In view of the upcoming local body and Assembly elections, a major reshuffle was announced in the BJP State unit, making some significant changes last week.
India Today
12-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
How BJP is gearing up for local body polls in Kerala
The BJP has begun preparations for the local body polls in Kerala scheduled in December, starting with Union home minister Amit Shah's visit to inaugurate the new and plush party state office in Thiruvananthapuram.'We have prepared a plan of action for a good performance in the local body polls, with a further vision for the 2026 state elections. We have chalked out strategies to win around 10,000 wards,' BJP state general secretary M.T. Ramesh BJP has appointed five members from each ward to lead the internal poll process, including selection of candidates. Ward-level leaders will identify the major development works needed and the failures of the incumbent ward members from other parties. The BJP will focus on local development December, 941 village panchayats, with 15,962 wards, 152 block panchayats, with 2,079 wards, 14 district panchayats, with 331 wards, 87 municipalities, with 3,122 wards, and six city corporations, with 414 wards, will go to polls. The State Election Commission has completed the electoral rolls for the process. Ramesh's target looks overly optimistic, given the formidable ground presence of the ruling CPI(M). In the local body polls in 2020, the BJP got 15 per cent of the votes. The party won 19 panchayats and two municipalities, and a total of 1, BJP, striving for a footing in Kerala for years, notched a major success in the parliamentary elections last year by winning the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat and securing a 19.24 per cent vote-share in the state. The party has appointed former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar as its new state chief.'Rajeev Chandrasekhar is seen as strengthening the party from the grassroots. He is issuing new directives to functionaries on working collectively. In general, party workers are happy as their grievances are being heard,' said Pradeep Rajasekharan, a senior journalist with 'Janmabhumi', the BJP mouthpiece in within the saffron bloc, resentment persists over Chandrasekhar. As a senior Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) leader said: 'The BJP leadership has failed to react to the daily turns of politics in the state and comprehend the political dynamics here.'The local body polls will be the BJP's test of grassroots acceptability before the assembly elections next year. For the party, youth, women and Christians are the catchment areas. While it has no presence in the current 140-member legislative assembly, the BJP has set an aim of winning up to 50 seats in the to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
