Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha MPs Stumble in Tamil Nadu and Kerala Polls

Two Rajya Sabha members from Madhya Pradesh, both holding key positions in the Union government, suffered setbacks in the southern state assembly elections, highlighting the tough challenge the BJP continues to face in penetrating Dravidian and Kerala politics.

Setback for Central Ministers

In a notable development, Union Minister L. Murugan finished second in the Avinashi (SC) constituency in Tamil Nadu, while his colleague George Kurian ended third in Kanjirappally, Kerala. The results came as the BJP recorded impressive performances in West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry but drew a blank on these southern fronts where it had invested organisational effort and star campaigners.

Murugan's Battle in Avinashi

L. Murugan, the Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, put up a spirited fight in the reserved Avinashi seat but could not overcome the strong wave favouring actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). 

According to results, TVK candidate Kamali S. emerged victorious with 84,209 votes. Murugan secured 68,836 votes, while the DMK candidate Dr Gokilamani V. finished third with 65,530 votes. The margin between the winner and the BJP leader stood at over 15,000 votes.

The contest turned triangular and intense, with Murugan successfully pushing the AIADMK to fourth place. However, the regional aspirations and anti-incumbency factors against established players worked in TVK’s favour. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav had campaigned for Murugan in Avinashi, underscoring the importance the party attached to the seat.

Kurian Fails to Make Inroads in Christian Belt

In Kerala, George Kurian, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Fisheries, contested from the Christian-dominated Kanjirappally constituency but finished a distant third. Kurian polled around 26,984 votes. 

Congress candidate Rony K. Baby won comfortably with 56,646 votes, followed by Dr N. Jayaraj of Kerala Congress (M) with 50,874 votes. The BJP leader trailed the winner by nearly 30,000 votes. The direct fight between LDF and UDF left little room for the saffron party to expand its base despite expectations that Kurian’s community connect would help consolidate Christian votes.

Who are the Two Leaders?

L. Murugan, a prominent Dalit face of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, began his journey as an RSS pracharak and remained associated with ABVP for years. A successful lawyer who practised at the Madras High Court for 15 years, he also served as vice-chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. His aggressive “Vel Yatra” as state BJP president helped give the party a sharper Hindutva identity in the state. The party had sent him to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh in 2021.

George Kurian, one of the senior-most BJP faces in Kerala, has been with the party since the 1980s. Known for his work in building bridges with the Christian community, he previously served as vice-chairman of the National Commission for Minorities. He was accommodated in the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh after Jyotiraditya Scindia’s resignation.

Broader Picture for BJP in South

The twin defeats come despite the BJP’s aggressive push in both states. In Tamil Nadu, the party had hoped Murugan’s organisational experience and central minister status would help it gain ground amid shifting political alignments. In Kerala, the party has been trying for years to emerge as a third pole but continues to struggle against the deeply entrenched LDF-UDF bipolarity.

Party workers in both states, however, pointed to incremental gains in vote share and the visibility these campaigns provided. Senior BJP leaders are expected to review the performance in the coming days to fine-tune the southern strategy ahead of future elections.

Political observers noted that while the BJP managed to disrupt traditional equations — particularly by relegating AIADMK in Avinashi — converting visibility into seats remains a long haul in the south. The results also underscore the continuing influence of regional parties and strong local identities in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

What Lies Ahead

With assembly polls in these states concluded, attention will now shift to how the BJP recalibrates its approach. For the two Madhya Pradesh-linked ministers, the focus will return to their ministerial responsibilities in Delhi even as the party leadership analyses the ground feedback from these high-profile contests.