Kerala: BJP to make things tough for UDF and LDF in some seats

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It happened during the assembly poll in 2016 and in the Aruvikkara bypoll in 2015. On both occasions, senior Congress leaders claimed that the fight was between the UDF and BJP. The open endorsement of BJP as a major contender by the then chief minister Oommen Chandy was severely criticised by the LDF leaders, who said Chandy was giving undue legitimacy to BJP.

In 2019, it was the turn of CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan to bring BJP into focus. Even before BJP announcing its candidates, Balakrishnan predicted that in Kollam, Ernakulam, Vadakara, Kozhikode and Kannur constituencies BJP would field weak candidates to help the UDF. In lieu, the UDF will facilitate the win of BJP candidate Kummanam Rajasekharan in Thiruvananthapuram, he alleged. K Muraleedharan, Congress candidate for Vadakara, retorted sharply and said the real understanding was between CPM and BJP and there was a ‘Ma-B front’ in action.

While in the past, allegations of tacit alliance with BJP were used to be levelled by the leading fronts after the campaign gaining momentum, this time they didn’t even wait for the campaign to take off, which is a clear indication that the state is set to witess a strong triangular contest.

“The allegation of Congress-BJP alliance levelled by CPM is an admission of defeat. In the last assembly poll, CPM had back-stabbed their own candidate at Vattiyoorkavu,” said Rajasekharan, BJP candidate for Thiruvananthapuram. “The election this time is between supporters of Modi and opponents of Modi. It is ridiculous to see the CPM secretary, who is working hard to anoint Congress president as the Prime Minister, levelling baseless allegations against us,” he said. Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor said the contest will be tough in Thiruvananthapuram with Rajasekharan’s entry. “I don’t want to underestimate any leader,” he said.

A thrilling triangular contest can be expected in six to eight seats. In constituencies like Alappuzha and Kottayam, where BJP couldn’t win decent share of votes in 2014, they have deputed candidates who are powerful enough to canvas votes even from the LDF and UDF camps. “In four or five constituencies, a real triangular fight can be expected,” said political scientist J Prabhash.