As the state gears up for another LS election, the general mood prevailing in political circles till the other day centred around the idea of an almost level playing field for both the major political fronts—UDF and LDF. But the CPI(M)’s attempts to poach into the Congress fold has caught the ruling front off guard. However, the CP(M)’s attitude of ignoring the minor partners gave the front a rude shock in the RSP’s instant decision to sever ties with the LDF and seek shelter under the UDF camp.
Despite its poaching into the Congress fold, the impression of the LDF is that it is yet to transform the coalition into a winning side. With umpteen issues to put the ruling UDF on the defensive, the LDF could have been in a more advantageous position. But its opportunism in the selection of candidates is preventing it from taking advantage of the UDF’s issues.
Veteran VS Still the Star
It is a fact that CPI(M) veteran and Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan differed from the party’s view on nearly all issues, and he has made it a habit to make his different opinions known. Despite his rebellion within the party, he enjoys a huge sway over the masses due to his political skill of playing the master stroke in the most opportune moments. It was to satisfy the veteran to some extent that the party expelled K C Ramchandran, one of the convicts in the TP murder case. A decidedly satisfied VS then offered to campaign.
Beware of Backlash
The major threat the LDF is likely to face is the backlash from its traditional voters who are worried about the lack of worthy candidates. Over-dependence on the ‘out of the blue’ candidates has almost rocked the LDF‘s ideological plank. While candidates like Christy Fernandez and Innocent will attract voters from the Latin and Roman Catholic Church, at the same time it will be risking prospect of candidates like M A Baby in Kollam in an apparent backlash from the majority community. The CPI(M) decision to field candidates like Innocent is viewed by some as a mockery of politics. The RMP workers in constituencies like Vadakara will also dent LDF’s prospects. Factional feuds and lack of cohesion in the Left fold may also prove costly.
The ‘Green’ Card
Though Kasturirangan report was tipped to be one of the potential weapons the LDF could make use of this time, the front has taken a beating with the Election Commission allowing the government to come out with its revised draft notification. However, the Samrakshana Samithi and a few leaders of the church are yet to mellow down their protests. Hence, to reap benefit in the UDF citadels of Idukki, Wayanad and Pathanamthitta, LDF will have to sweat it out. The Aranmula Airport issue is also inviting the ire of the people and the LDF can, with some intelligence, shift it to its advantage.
When the slain T P Chandrasekharan had politics and his killers also had politics of their own how could one say that it was not a political murder. The party has executed the promise made by CPM general secretary Prakash Karat, that if party men had any role in the TP murder, they would not be retained. The finding by the inquiry commission that the murder of TP resulted from personal enmity is just one of the conclusions of the probe team. If there remains anything more to be revealed, it can be done through another party-level probe.