Thiruvananthapuram: The exit polls predicted that NDA will open its account in Kerala by winning the Thiruvananthapuram seat. This constituency saw a triangular battle among the current MP Shashi Tharoor, BJP's Kummanam Rajasekharan and former Kerala minister C Divakaran of the Communist Party of India(CPI). Significantly, the exit poll results also predicted that LDF's vote share would decrease from 2014. 

Polling began at 7 am for 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala on April 23. The exit polls also predicted that UDF would get more than half of the seats.

After resigning from the post as Mizoram Governor, Kummanam Rajasekharan offered worship at the Sabarimala shrine. As per the request of the RSS and the BJP, Rajasekharan relinquished his post to contest the Lok Sabha election from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The RSS has presented Rajasekharan’s involvement in Aranmula protests and several other issues at Sabarimala, before the BJP national president Amit Shah.

The RSS's stand is that his participation in the Sabarimala issue is vital for the party.

The NDA candidate in 2014 O Rajagopal almost toppled Tharoor even when the Nairs were backing the latter. Now the ground realities are totally different. The BJP is particularly focused on the Assembly segments of Nemom, Thiruvananthapuram, Vattiyoorkavu and Kazhakkoottam.