Can the “Suresh Gopi effect” that reshaped Kerala’s electoral story now redraw the political map of the Thrissur Corporation? Did his much-publicised outreach sessions — from Kalungu Samvadam to SG Coffee Times — truly build political capital? And can the Bharatiya Janata Party replicate its spectacular Lok Sabha breakthrough, where Mr. Gopi made unprecedented strides across the Corporation divisions?
These questions dominate Thrissur’s political chatter — barely a year after the actor-turned-politician shattered Kerala’s electoral equations.
Mr. Gopi’s landslide Lok Sabha victory — a staggering margin of 74,840 votes — was celebrated as a watershed moment not just for Thrissur but for the BJP in Kerala. It was the party’s first-ever Lok Sabha seat in the State, achieved by a man who stormed both the Left Democratic Front and United Democratic Front bastions with the same fire he once wielded on screen.
Even earlier, in the 2021 Assembly polls, Mr. Gopi had lifted the BJP’s vote share in Thrissur to an all-time high of 31.3%, nearly 12 points above its 2016 tally. Riding on this momentum, the BJP — which holds six seats in the Corporation Council — hopes to expand its footprint in the Corporation. Party leaders insist that the “Suresh Gopi wave” remains intact.
“There is no politician who has made such an effort to connect with common people,” said former BJP district secretary and State vice-president K. K. Aneesh Kumar. “He’s genuine, without pretensions. People love him. Those criticising him are simply jealous of his popularity.”
BJP strategists point to the Lok Sabha results, where Mr. Gopi secured majority in 35 of Thrissur Corporation’s 55 divisions. “A majority in 27–28 seats is enough to rule the Corporation. That is not an uphill task,” Mr. Kumar said.
Yet, beneath the confidence runs an emerging counter-narrative.
A section of political observers insists that Mr. Gopi’s Lok Sabha win was personal — not an ideological endorsement of the BJP. And more critically, they say the image that fuelled his victory has taken visible dents in the months since.
The flash-point is Kalungu Samvadam — Mr. Gopi’s flagship listening programme that has, ironically, turned into a political misfire.
The trouble started at the very first event at Pullu, Thrissur, when Mr. Gopi appeared curt with an elderly man pleading for help to repair his collapsing house. “That is not my job,” he said, returning the petition unopened — a moment captured on video and circulated widely.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) quickly stepped in, promising to construct a new house for the man. “This was cruelly imperious behaviour unbecoming of a public representative,” said CPI(M) district secretary K. V. Abdul Khadar. “Mr. Gopi repeatedly treats people who seek help with disdain.”
Another viral clip showed Mr. Gopi brusquely dismissing a woman distressed about her lost savings in the Karuvannur Cooperative Bank scam. More such episodes followed, and Kalungu Samvadam gradually morphed into a symbol of disconnect rather than accessibility.
“There has never been a politician in Kerala who has been trolled this much,” remarked a political observer. The backlash sharpened when Mr. Gopi addressed citizens as praja, a term critics called feudal and tone-deaf.
Still, Mr. Gopi remains defiant. “People actually look forward to these sessions,” he said, blaming the criticism on political opponents. When asked whether he was “still acting like his film characters,” he shot back: “Why should I come out of it? People love those characters,” even drawing parallels to his cult on-screen cop Bharathchandran IPS.
Congress leaders say the veneer has slipped.
“This is a smokescreen to hide vote-theft allegations and his underwhelming performance as MP and Minister,” said Thrissur DCC president Joseph Tajet. “There are no results, no real conversations — only showmanship. His arrogance is driving people away. The popularity he had during the Lok Sabha elections is fading fast.”
For now, the BJP maintains that Mr. Gopi remains its strongest asset, while the Opposition argues he has become his own political hurdle.
As Thrissur heads into a crucial civic battle, one question looms larger than ever: Will the ‘Suresh Gopi effect’ propel the BJP forward – or has the wave already began to ebb?
Published – November 26, 2025 09:43 am IST
