Thiruvananthapuram, Jan. 12 -- Union home minister Amit Shah demanded on Sunday that Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan hand over the probe into the Sabarimala gold theft case to a neutral investigation agency, signalling that the state police could not conduct an impartial inquiry.

Shah voiced the demand while addressing BJP workers and newly elected local body representatives in Thiruvananthapuram, as he kickstarted the party's campaign for the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

He also highlighted the NDA government's performance in the Lok Sabha elections and claimed that the party, from the 2024 election's 20% vote share, will jump to 40% in 2026.

"We need to be humble while going before the people. Our support in Keral...