In a landmark win, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 50 seats in the 100-member Thiruvananthapuram Corporation council. This marks the party's first-time victory in any Kerala Corporation. The BJP needed 51 seats for a majority but fell just short by one. Their campaign promised swift development, with BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar pledging a city blueprint within 45 days in office. Veteran BJP leader V.V. Rajesh, who won his council seat again, is the frontrunner for the Mayor post. He edged past former Kerala Director-General of Police R. Sreelekha, who joined BJP in 2024 and was until recently the favorite. Despite her public displeasure, Mr. Rajesh quickly visited her to smooth over tensions. Born in 1975 in Nedumangad, Rajesh rose through BJP ranks, from student leader with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad to State Youth President, and district party chief. He has contested three Assembly elections, improving vote shares each time, though never winning a seat. Rajesh was also known for his activism, including protests against the Supreme Court’s Sabarimala verdict. His team plans to use this win as a stepping stone to gain power in Kerala’s upcoming Assembly elections. Yet, BJP’s overall local vote share in Kerala fell from 19.26% in 2020 to 14.76% now, with little progress in rural district panchayats. The party is expected to push development projects actively in Thiruvananthapuram to showcase results. Rajesh has vowed to make the capital one of India’s top three developed cities within five years, riding on the growth potential from the Vizhinjam port. How he uses his new role will be key for BJP’s future in Kerala politics.