THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: From the fishing hamlets of Vakkom to the hill tracts of Pulimath, Attingal marches into the assembly elections as a politically charged battleground where persistent local challenges and rising development aspirations are set to shape voter sentiment.
Here, no campaign can begin without addressing core concerns such as acute water shortages, an agrarian crisis aggravated by wild animal incursions, sluggish infrastructure growth, and rising unemployment. The constituency also has a significant population of homeless and landless people.
These challenges have become central talking points as political parties compete for the attention of nearly two lakh voters. Reserved for Scheduled Castes, Attingal is witnessing heightened aspirations this time, as residents seek not only solutions to basic needs but also development on par with other parts of the capital district.
All three major political fronts are locked in an intense contest, having already crisscrossed the constituency as the campaign enters a crucial phase.
The CPM, which has not lost an assembly election here since Anathalavattom Anandan’s comfortable victory in 2006, continues to treat Attingal as a stronghold, with winning margins exceeding 30,000 votes in subsequent elections. Sitting MLA O S Ambika, seeking a second term, is highlighting development initiatives undertaken over the past five years, including Rs 700 crore worth of infrastructure projects such as the upgrading of 29 schools, establishment of smart village offices, and construction of new roads and bridges.
The opposition, meanwhile, is focusing on issues like the severe water shortage, particularly in Kilimanoor and surrounding areas, to connect with voters during the summer months. BJP candidate P Sudheer, a familiar face in the constituency, remains optimistic despite the large margin of defeat in 2021, banking on what he describes as a favourable situation driven by anti-incumbency sentiment.
The BJP camp is energised after national president Nitin Nabin held a road show in the constituency recently, which has boosted morale and strengthened confidence in turning the tide.
The UDF also sees an opportunity to return to winning ways with RSP’s Santhosh Bhadran. The last UDF candidate to win the constituency was Vakkom Purushothaman in 2001. According to S Prasanthan, former Congress constituency president, the party is counting on a potential spillover effect from minority consolidation in neighbouring constituencies such as Varkala, Vamanapuram, and Chadayamangalam, combined with anti-incumbency sentiment, to boost its prospects in Attingal.