‘My old friend’, PM Modi’s words for Kerala’s first BJP mayor draw attention in Kerala

January 23, 2026

Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pointed and personal reference to Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V.V. Rajesh during his public address on Friday has drawn political attention, particularly in the backdrop of the Mayor’s absence from the list of dignitaries who received the Prime Minister at the airport.

Mayor’s Absence at Airport Triggers Protocol Buzz

As per established protocol, visiting dignitaries arriving in the state capital are usually received by the Mayor. However, when Prime Minister Modi landed in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, Mayor V.V. Rajesh was not present at the airport reception. This led to brief speculation in political circles. It was later clarified that Rajesh had been included among the dignitaries on the dais with the Prime Minister at both programmes held in the city and was therefore not part of the airport reception team.

‘The Pride of Thiruvananthapuram’: PM Modi’s Personal Praise

What stood out, however, was the Prime Minister’s affectionate reference to the Mayor during his speech. PM Modi described Rajesh as “the pride of Thiruvananthapuram” and “my old friend”, remarks that resonated strongly with party workers and supporters present at the venue. The reference was widely seen as a deliberate acknowledgement of Rajesh’s political journey and his growing importance to the BJP in Kerala.

V.V. Rajesh, who has risen steadily through the party ranks, previously served as the state president of the BJP’s youth wing, the Yuva Morcha, and later as the party’s district president in Thiruvananthapuram. Observers noted that it was this long association that prompted the Prime Minister to refer to him as a friend while highlighting his elevation to the post of Mayor.

Symbolic Boost to BJP’s Grassroots Growth in Kerala

Rajesh’s election marked a historic moment, as he became the first BJP Mayor in Kerala following the party’s breakthrough victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. Notably, while PM Modi chose to single out Rajesh by name, he did not explicitly mention BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar or Union Minister of State George Kurian, both of whom were present on the dais.

The Prime Minister’s emphasis on Rajesh’s rise to the mayoral post was widely interpreted as a symbolic endorsement of the BJP’s organisational growth at the grassroots level in the state. Adding to the moment’s significance, as PM Modi left the first venue, he was seen holding Rajesh by the shoulders and walking with him for a few steps — a gesture that further underlined the personal and political weight of the interaction.