Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warm and pointed reference to Thiruvananthapuram Mayor VV Rajesh during his visit to Kerala on Friday has triggered considerable political discussion in the state, particularly against the backdrop of the Mayor’s absence from the official airport reception.
Under established protocol, the Mayor of the state capital is typically among the dignitaries who receive visiting leaders at the airport. However, when PM Modi arrived in Thiruvananthapuram, Mayor Rajesh was notably absent, prompting speculation in political circles.
Officials later clarified that they had designated Rajesh to join the Prime Minister on the dais at two separate public programmes in the city, explaining his absence from the airport reception team.
What captured wider attention was the Prime Minister’s affectionate reference to the Mayor during his public speech.
PM Modi described Rajesh as the pride of Thiruvananthapuram and referred to him as my old friend, a remark that resonated strongly with BJP workers and supporters present at the venue.
Observers viewed the comment as a deliberate acknowledgement of Rajesh’s political journey and his importance to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s growth in Kerala.
Rise Through Party Ranks
VV Rajesh has long served the BJP, earlier leading the party’s youth wing as state president of the Yuva Morcha and later heading the BJP’s Thiruvananthapuram district unit.
His elevation to the post of Mayor followed the BJP’s breakthrough victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, making him the first BJP Mayor in Kerala.
Political analysts noted that it was this long-standing association that the Prime Minister highlighted by referring to Rajesh as a friend while speaking about his rise within the party.
Significantly, PM Modi did not single out the BJP’s state president, Rajeev Chandrasekhar or Union Minister of State George Kurian by name, despite their presence on the dais.
The focus on Rajesh was widely interpreted as a symbolic endorsement of the party’s grassroots expansion in Kerala.
The moment gained further prominence when the Prime Minister, while leaving the first venue, placed his hands on Rajesh’s shoulders and walked with him for a few steps, a gesture that added a personal dimension to the political message.
The remarks and gestures together underscored the BJP’s emphasis on its first major civic success in Kerala, lending added significance to the Prime Minister’s visit.
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