2 min readThiruvanananthapuramUpdated: Mar 31, 2026 05:21 PM IST
A monthly food security card of Rs 2,500 for below poverty line (BPL) families, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY coverage for all Keralites, an AIIMS campus, two free LPG cylinders a year for the poor during Onam and Christmas, a hike in welfare pension to Rs 3,000, and a high-speed corridor are among the highlights of the BJP manifesto ahead of the assembly elections in Kerala.
The manifesto was released by BJP national president Nitin Nabin in the presence of party state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and other senior leaders. BJP is the first party in Kerala to release an election manifesto for the 2026 polls.
The top promises for ‘Vikasit Kerala’ include revamping Devaswom Boards to increase devotee participation in the management of temples, including Sabarimala, and a CBI probe into the gold theft. A Sabarimala Infrastructure Development Mission will also be launched to undertake large-scale devotee-centric infrastructure development. Every woman from poor and BPL households will be provided a Bhakshya Arogya Suraksha Card with a monthly recharge of Rs 2,500, usable at pharmacies and grocery stores.
The manifesto said MSP will be provided for all crops requiring support and that plantation lands will have options for multi-crop agriculture through amendments to relevant land and forestry laws. Every household in Kerala will get 20,000 litres of water per month free of charge.
All remaining phases of the Kochi Metro will be completed, and new metro services will be introduced in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.
On the Mullaperiyar dam, the manifesto said, “Without impacting the water rights of Tamil Nadu, we will work with the governments of both states and the Centre to ensure safety for Kerala and water for Tamil Nadu.” However, the manifesto did not specify whether a new dam would be constructed.
