Hits and Misses

Several factors have contributed to the massive win for the Left in the Kerala Assembly elections. ‘Express’ takes a look at what worked and what did not for the LDF and the UDF in this election.

WHAT WORKED

• LDF’s #JusticeforJisha worked in their favour to some extent to take the women’s safety message to the voters. Though the LDF’s local MLA Saju Paul lost in Perumbavoor, the front could manage to highlight the issue of the deteriorating law and order in the state
• LDF’s relentless campaign against UDF’s corruption from bar bribery to solar scam and a slew of land deals helped the front to strike a chord with the electorate
• The ‘fear factor’ due to the BJP’s growing presence may have led to the consolidation of  minority votes in favour of the Left front

WHAT DID NOT

• Vellappally Natesan’s BDJS failed to cut into the CPM votes while the Congress-leaning Ezhava votes went to the BJP, helping the Left
• UDF’s campaign on prohibition did not cut ice with voters while LDF’s stance that abstinence was more pragmatic won the day
• UDF’s developmental campaign that it was able to deliver big infrastructure and developmental projects showcasing the Kochi Metro to Kannur Airport and SmartCity to a slew of bridges was not communicated well to the voters. Also, there was a feeling that the UDF government was inaugurating half-baked projects

K Babu suffered the biggest blow as he lost in Tripunithura to M Swaraj  (LDF)for a margin of 4,467 votes. Winning the seat first in 1991, he had been the undisputed member from Tripunithura for five terms.

P K Jayalakshmi, the lone woman Minister in the Chandy Government, faced defeat at the hands of LDF candidate O R Kelu for a slender margin of 1,307 votes in Mananthavady.

Agriculture Minister and JD(U) candidate in Kuthuparamba, K P Mohanan, had a humiliating defeat at the hands of LDF’s K K Shylaja, who won the seat by a margin of 12,291 votes.

The defeat of speaker N Sakthan is also considered a major setback for the ruling front. Chief Whip Thomas Unniyadan (KC-M) also tasted defeat at the hands of CPM’s K U Arunan by a margin of 2,711 votes.

The defeat of speaker N Sakthan is also considered a major setback for the ruling front. Chief Whip Thomas Unniyadan (KC-M) also tasted defeat at the hands of CPM’s K U Arunan by a margin of 2,711 votes.

It is an unknown fact to many that Muhammed Mohsin  who won from Pattambi (LDF), is a student of the JNU.  Muhammed Mohsin defeated Congress candidate C P Mohammed. He is vice-president of the AISF, the student wing of the CPI.

Roji, also a JNU product, who won from Angamaly (Congress),  allowed the UDF to regain the Angamaly constituency after one decade. He defeated Benny Moonjely of the JDS with a margin of 9,186 votes. Roji heads Congress’ student wing the NSUI.

  Earlier, both Muhammed Mohsin and Roji had shared a common platform during the agitations that followed the arrest of student  Kanhaiya Kumar  

BDJS fails to deliver

The BDJS, the main ally of the BJP in the state, failed to deliver, despite its big claims. On the contrary, the posture of its mentor Vellappally Natesan and his open statements against the minority communities  helped only to scare the minorities who rallied behind the LD.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rallies which attracted a huge turnout also helped only to step up a fear factor among the minorities who in turn collectively rejected the BDJS candidates in strongholds like Kuttanad, Ettumanoor and other constituencies in Central Kerala.

CM to resign today

The debacle in the Assembly polls is also poised to change the equations in the Congress. With two-thirds of the elected Congress MLAs aligned with the ‘I’ faction led by Ramesh Chennithala, the Opposition leader’s mantle may not be taken up by Oommen Chandy, who captains the ‘A’ faction in the state unit. In all likelihood, Ramesh Chennithala will become the choice of the 22-member Congress Legislature Party to the post of Opposition leader. Meanwhile, the chief minister reached here tonight from Puthupally.

The poll debacle faced by K K Rema has come as a major setback for the Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP), which has been breathing to keep itself alive after its failure in the local body elections. By fielding Rema, wife of slain leader T P Chandrasekharan, the party had hoped to gain by creating a sentimental wave over the TP murder. While LDF’s C K Nanu of JD(S) emerged victorious by improving his majority to 9,511 against his previous margin of 547, the RMP could just double its vote count compared to last poll.

Splinter parties facing extinction

With the LDF securing a clear majority in the Assembly election, the role of minnows in Kerala politics has become irrelevant, at least for the next five years.

No. of Seats Contested

Kerala Congress

(Democratic)4

INL 3  

RSP5 

JD(U)5

CMP (John)1 

Kerala Congress (Scaria)1