--- title: "BJP to launch nationwide campaign against UDF government in Keralam over Vande Mataram row" url: https://projectchintan.com/article/bjp-campaign-kerala-vande-mataram-row-4t8ll publisher: Project Chintan author: Project Chintan Newsroom section: Politics published: 2026-08-17T11:02:30.615Z modified: 2026-08-17T13:00:06.291Z language: en-IN --- # BJP to launch nationwide campaign against UDF government in Keralam over Vande Mataram row The BJP plans a nationwide campaign against the UDF government in Keralam over Vande Mataram. M.T. Ramesh accuses the administration of dishonoring the national song and cites a Centre mandate and state circular discrepancies at Independence Day events. ## Key takeaways - BJP plans a nationwide campaign against Kerala's UDF government over Vande Mataram conduct at Independence Day celebrations. - State function in Thiruvananthapuram reportedly did not render Vande Mataram, while a Centre directive emphasizing its full rendition exists. - Centre's 2026 act provides Vande Mataram with the same legal protection as the national anthem in official events. ## What Happened The BJP announced it would lead a nationwide campaign against the UDF government in Keralam, led by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, accusing the administration of adopting an anti-national stance by not presenting Vande Mataram at official Independence Day events. The party’s state general secretary, M.T. Ramesh, attributed this to pressure from religious groups and said legal action was being considered if the national song was deliberately omitted from state observances. Ramesh pointed to the Independence Day ceremony at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, where the national flag was raised and the national anthem was performed, noting that Vande Mataram had not been rendered as part of the state function. He cited a Centre circular instructing the rendering of the full version of Vande Mataram at Independence Day celebrations, while a state circular reportedly pushed only the national anthem. The BJP argues this amounts to a breach of law enacted by Parliament, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026, which grants Vande Mataram the same protection as the national anthem in official settings. Ramesh claimed that Vande Mataram had been sung in full in several other states (Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka) under Congress or Congress-led administrations, while Tamil Nadu and Keralam did not render the song at their official Independence Day events. He asserted that Satheesan’s stance contradicted the Congress’s historical position on Vande Mataram and suggested that the DUS government yielded to pressure from groups such as the Indian Union Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami. He described the development as a manifestation of a new Kerala narrative and warned of political fallout stemming from what he deemed a divisive approach. ## Why It Matters Supporters of the BJP frame the incident as a breach of national legal norms and a challenge to ceremonial equality for Vande Mataram with the national anthem in official functions. If the state continues to omit Vande Mataram, the party contends that legal avenues may be pursued, potentially widening friction between the UDF government and central legislation. The dispute also touches on broader ideological battles within Indian politics, with Ramesh linking the stance to pressure from religious groups and contrasting actions in other states under different political configurations. The episode amplifies concerns about how ceremonial protocol is observed across states and how national symbols are treated in state events. ## Background The incident centers on the treatment of Vande Mataram, the national song, at state Independence Day events. Parliament enacted the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026, extending similar protection to Vande Mataram as to the national anthem for official occasions. Reports indicate variations in how states have handled the song’s rendition during Independence Day celebrations, with some states rendering it fully and others omitting it. The BJP frame positions the Keralam government as leaning away from a national, inclusive ceremonial approach, alleging internal pressures from certain religious groups influenced the decision. The Kerala administration is led by the UDF, with V.D. Satheesan as chief minister, and the political dynamic includes criticism from the BJP about perceived ideological shifts. ## Key Facts - BJP will lead a nationwide campaign against the UDF government in Keralam over Vande Mataram. - State General Secretary M.T. Ramesh made the allegation in public remarks. - Independence Day function in Thiruvananthapuram reportedly did not render Vande Mataram; the national flag was raised and the national anthem was sung. - A Centre circular asked for rendering the full version of Vande Mataram at Independence Day events; a state circular reportedly mentioned only the national anthem. - Vande Mataram was rendered in full in Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka; Tamil Nadu and Keralam did not render it at the cited events. - Parliament enacted the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026, granting Vande Mataram the same protection as the national anthem in official contexts. - Ramesh linked the stance to pressure from groups such as the Indian Union Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami. - The comments reference a contrast with the Congress’s historical stance on Vande Mataram. ## What Happens Next The article states that legal measures are being considered by the BJP in response to the alleged omission of Vande Mataram from state ceremonies. It does not specify any court date, filing details, or further procedural steps. The political campaign’s practical organization or timeline is not outlined beyond the intent to pursue a nationwide campaign and potential legal action. --- Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/bjp-campaign-kerala-vande-mataram-row-4t8ll Reported from: Multiple Sources