Daijiworld Media Network - Thrissur

Thrissur, Jun 4: Suresh Gopi, the renowned Malayalam actor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, has clinched victory in Kerala's Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, triumphing over CPI candidate Sunil Kumar with a significant lead of 74,686 votes.

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI) website, Suresh Gopi secured a total of 4,12,338 votes, surpassing his closest competitor, CPI's Sunil Kumar, who garnered 3,37,652 votes. The Congress Party's candidate, K Muraleedharan, trailed behind with 3,28,124 votes.

This victory marks Suresh Gopi's second consecutive run for the constituency. In 2019, despite his popularity, he faced defeat against Congress candidate TN Prathapan, finishing third with a considerable gap of 1,21,267 votes.

The BJP's decision to field Suresh Gopi reflects its strategy to expand its presence in Kerala, a state where it has historically struggled to gain ground. Notably, the party's vote share in the state rose significantly from 11.1% in 2014 to an impressive 28.2% in 2019.

Suresh Gopi's political journey began in April 2016 when he was nominated as a Rajya Sabha member by the President of India under the category of eminent citizens. Later that year, he officially joined the BJP. During his tenure in the upper house of Parliament, Gopi served on various committees, including the standing committee for information and technology and the consultative committee for civil aviation.

However, his political career has not been without controversy. In 2023, he faced allegations of inappropriate behavior towards a woman reporter during a media interaction, for which he later apologized on social media.

Prior to his foray into politics, Suresh Gopi had enjoyed immense popularity in the Malayalam film industry during the 1990s, competing with stalwarts like Mohanlal and Mammootty. The BJP aimed to leverage his mass appeal in Kerala's political landscape.

The Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, comprising seven assembly segments, witnessed a notable voter turnout of 72.9% during the polls held on April 26. The general elections for 543 seats were conducted in seven phases, concluding on June 1, with the BJP seeking a rare third term at the Centre under the leadership of prime minister Narendra Modi.