The BJP in Kerala has expressed its support for Shone George, a prominent Christian leader within the party, amid a dispute with the Catholic Church. This conflict has arisen from allegations suggesting that bishops have urged their congregants to cast ballots for the Congress party in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Shone, who serves as one of the vice presidents of the BJP’s state committee, criticized the Catholic Church’s opposition to the FCRA amendment Bill presented in the Lok Sabha shortly before the elections in Kerala. Although the Bill has been temporarily suspended, it has sparked significant backlash among various Christian denominations, particularly within the influential Catholic community, thereby complicating the BJP’s outreach efforts.

On Friday, Shone and his father, P C George, claimed that the bishop of Kanjirappally had instructed nuns to vote for the Congress party during the elections scheduled for April 9. Shone is contesting from Pala, which is considered a Catholic stronghold, while his father is running in the nearby Poonjar constituency. Additionally, the Catholic Church-affiliated newspaper Deepika criticized the George family’s position regarding the FCRA Bill, arguing that it would enhance the transparency of foreign funding.

On Saturday, BJP state general secretary S Suresh defended Shone, highlighting his commitment to advocating for Christian issues and his criticism of the Church-affiliated publication. Suresh asserted, “The BJP will oppose any attempts to sway Christian voters back to Congress. When many in the Christian community are distancing themselves from Congress, there seems to be a push to revert them to that party. Shone has taken a stand against this.” He further reminded Church leaders that the BJP has supported them on matters such as the fair distribution of minority scholarships and in the face of criticisms from the SDPI regarding the Pala bishop’s controversial comments.

In this ongoing controversy between the George family and the Church, the BJP has adopted a strategic approach by backing Christian leaders rather than the Church hierarchy. Among some Christian voters, there is a belief that bishops lack transparency regarding foreign funding, particularly in connection with the FCRA debate.

Shone George, a former legislator with multiple terms, and his father previously belonged to the regional Kerala Congress before aligning with the BJP a few years ago. Unlike many other Christian figures in the BJP, the George family enjoys substantial grassroots support in Pala and its surrounding areas.

As the 2026 Kerala elections approach, the BJP has nominated a limited number of Christian candidates, including Union minister George Kurian and Anoop Antony Joseph, both of whom have strong ties to the party. The BJP chose not to award tickets to figures such as former DGP Jacob Thomas, political defector Tom Vadakkan, and ex-minister Alphonse Kannanthanam, who joined the BJP after previously serving as a CPI(M)-backed legislator.

Shaju Philip, a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, oversees the publication’s reporting from Kerala. With more than 25 years in journalism, he is recognized as an authoritative figure on the socio-political, religious, and developmental issues in South India.

His expertise encompasses multiple facets, including:

• Over two decades of experience documenting the “Kerala Model” of development and its intricate communal dynamics.
• In-depth political and governance analysis, focusing on the LDF and UDF coalitions, as well as the BJP’s emergence in the state.
• Crime and investigative journalism, with notable coverage of significant cases such as gold smuggling and political violence.
• Ground-level reporting during crises, including the 2018 floods, Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response.

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