Lok Sabha elections 2024: ‘It’s BJP for Kerala this time’

Popular Malayalam actor and BJP candidate Suresh Gopi is busy addressing the electorate in central Keralarsquos Thrissur constituency and visiting votersrsquo homes Though he has lost twice from this seatmdashin the 2019 Lok Sabha election and the 2021 Assembly poll Gopi is confident of victory this time aroundIn the forthcoming Lok Sabha election Gopi is pitted against Congressrsquos K Muraleedharan and CPIrsquos V S Sunilkumar Thrissur is one of the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala It has seven Assembly segments Guruvayur Manalur Ollur Thrissur Nattika SC Irinjalakuda and PuthukkadExcerpts from the interviewYou have lost elections twice before What do you believe are your chances this time aroundI am contesting for the second time after 2019 My party and the good souls in other parties believe that we the BJP will make it in Kerala this time We are almost there M K Varghese mayor of the Left Democratic Frontled Thrissur Corporation recently said you were fit to become the Thrissur MP though he did a somersault later and said all the three candidates contesting the seat were goodBharatiya Janata Party candidate and actor Suresh Gopi after a community meeting in Thrissur Kerala on Wednesday PicAtul KambleLaughs I would not like to comment on the mayorrsquos statement as I donrsquot want to put him in a political fix He is a noble man Why Because he is from the services I have been very open His assessment of me and the survey that he has done of my heart has given him the proper understanding to tell the people that I am fitYou recently mentioned that netas should become lsquonoble politiciansrsquo What exactly did you mean by thatBe sensitive be very emotional understand the peoplersquos hearts and only then will you see the peoplersquos tears if you only see the tears you will wipe them off when you see the issues they are facing you will find solutions You have to solve their issuesWhat are the BJPrsquos chances in Kerala this timeThe Prime Ministerrsquos statement that no one would be spared in the Karuvannur bank scam has infused muchneeded energy among the poor Announcing that extensions will be provided for Vande Bharat and the Metro is providing relief to a section of the poor The Jal Jeevan Mission has not provided pipestap water to all and the ones who have received it are not functional The scheme is riddled with malpractices The PM had said that each house would get a water connectionWhat more can he offer to the people beyond these reliefsThe prime minister has come to Kerala and metaphorically stood on the chest of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan while making the above statement This is for the peopleHow important is Kerala for the party PM Modi was on his third visit to the stateThe Prime Minister is a soulful leader and the strongest any political party can have not just in the country but the whole world While looking into the welfare of the nation he has to decide which noble party and souls can make the nation He is trying to widen the conglomeration of such souls So he has to make it in Kerala besides Tamil Nadu Telangana and Andhra Pradesh I can never see them the Teluguspeaking states divided Telugu is one soul one body Nearly 70 per cent of the people on the Left are good but on account of the rest the former has to deal with dirt They wonrsquot look for an escape route as they are firm believers in the party They are creating the script for a new rule that is proving to be favourable for the BJPIf you are elected as a cabinet ministerThat question is completely out of the box because my leaders and the party will decide My leaders are aware of my heart I will be a member of Parliament if I am elected and continue for a comfortable period so that I can make money and pursue my passion I am sure they will give me that spaceYou have said in your talks that people will vote for change What issues remain unresolved for the people and what do you think you can deliver if your party winsHave the MPs CPIrsquos C N Jayadevan and Congressrsquos T N Prathapan who came to power in 2014 and 2019 respectively done anything till 2021 What were their promises Have they fulfilled them Have they satisfied voters That is my pointWhat is your advice to firsttime votersVote for the nation Forget your political party even if it is the BJP Do what is best to keep your country protected from terrorists and terrorminded people No one will want to perpetrate terrorism propagate terrorism and let terrorist angles or thoughtfulness growSevenNo of Assembly segments in Thrissur LS constituency20No of LS seats in Kerala