Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – A political controversy has erupted in Kerala over the display of a Bharat Mata portrait at the Raj Bhavan, with former BJP State president K. Surendran accusing the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) of vote-bank politics.

On Saturday, June 21, 2025, Surendran sharply criticized the CPI(M)-led government for objecting to the portrait and associated symbols like the saffron flag, saying these have been deeply rooted in Indian tradition for centuries. He alleged that the government’s resistance is a deliberate attempt to polarize voters in view of the upcoming local body and Assembly elections.

“The Ministers and leaders of the Left front think that by opposing Bharat Mata and the saffron flag, they can appease certain sections of society and gain politically,” Surendran said, calling it a “clear conspiracy.”

The controversy began after Ministers in the LDF government reportedly expressed concern over the prominent display of a Bharat Mata image inside the official premises of the Governor’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram. Some Left leaders had questioned whether such displays were appropriate in a secular constitutional setup.

However, BJP leaders, including Surendran, countered that Bharat Mata is not a political symbol but a cultural and civilizational representation of the Indian nation.

“The concept of Bharat Mata and the saffron flag are not recent inventions. They are intrinsic to our national ethos. The Left front has no authority to dictate whether it should be displayed at Raj Bhavan or not,” Surendran asserted.

He also accused the LDF of repeatedly engaging in such controversies to distract from governance failures and instigate religious and ideological divisions.

Cultural vs Political Symbolism

The Bharat Mata image, often portrayed as a woman clad in a saffron sari holding a flag and sometimes accompanied by a lion, has deep emotional resonance for many Indians, particularly within nationalist circles. However, critics argue it has also been politically appropriated by right-wing forces and used as a tool of ideological assertion, which is what the CPI(M) and Left leaders are reportedly objecting to.

LDF's Stand

While no formal statement has yet been issued by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, sources in the CPI(M) said that public institutions like Raj Bhavan should avoid displays that symbolize any one religious or political narrative, especially in a constitutionally secular democracy.

Left-aligned student and youth organizations have also held small demonstrations outside the Raj Bhavan, raising slogans like "Raj Bhavan is not a Sangh Shakha", in a pointed jab at the BJP and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Upcoming Elections Context

Kerala is preparing for its next round of local body elections in late 2025, with Assembly elections due in early 2026. Both BJP and CPI(M) are intensifying their messaging and voter outreach, particularly targeting Hindu and minority communities, respectively.

Surendran's remarks are seen as part of the BJP’s strategy to consolidate its Hindu nationalist base in a state where its political footprint is still small but growing.

What Comes Next?

While the Governor’s Office has not commented publicly, the Raj Bhavan has neither removed nor altered the display, suggesting that the matter could further escalate.

“The Left government’s objection shows how far removed they are from the cultural heartbeat of India,” Surendran concluded.

Observers say this row could become a flashpoint in Kerala’s increasingly polarized political landscape, where ideological symbolism often overshadows policy debates.

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