Kerala Congress to Go for the BJP Jugular, Spare The SNDP

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The political churnings entailed by the distinctly possible BJP-SNDP alliance have made the UDF and its leading partner Congress to sit up and devise strategies to deter likely threats.

It is reliably learnt that the top Congress leaders have chalked out plans to settle differences with coalition partners in various districts over seat sharing, especially with RSP in Kollam district, KC(M) in Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts and issues with IUML in Malappuram and Kozhikode districts. The Congress strategy would be an all-out offensive against the BJP by exposing its ‘communal agenda’. “There will be no let-up on that,” Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told ‘Express’ on Monday.

The Congress troika, Chandy, KPCC president V M Sudheeran and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, met here on Monday and veered around an assessment that the emerging political scenario has to be dealt with carefully, without ruffling the support base of the UDF   within the Ezhava community.

The understanding is to not react to personal attacks like that made by CPM veteran V S Achuthanandan, though Sudheeran had elegantly countered Vellapally Natesan’s ‘despicable creature’ remark. “We’ll focus on the threat posed by the communal agenda of the BJP. At the same time, the UDF will not engage in a personal fist fight with the SNDP leadership,” a top leader said.

The all-round negativism, anti-development stand and violence pursued by the CPM will become a poll plank. UDF poll campaign will be kicked off by senior leader A K Antony in Kochi on Tuesday. “Traditionally, a vast section of the Ezhavas is aligned with the Left. Congress has a lesser support base in the community but it continues to be in tact. There is  also a section owing allegiance to  Vellapally and son Thushar. For us, the last segment was ‘managed’ support. It would display a shift this time,” he added.

But then, the Congress strategists are expecting a new-found support from the Nair community to compensate it, as the likely animosity of the latter with the Ezhava community could translate into a possible drain from the BJP kitty.

The quantum growth in the BJP base was attributed to the growing support from Nair community members, especially the youth. The Nair and Ezhava communities have found it difficult to  band together on a long term basis, and the reservation issue has only magnified it.

The UDF reckons that the SNDP-BJP tie up would impact the LDF, followed by the ruling front, in Alappuzha district. The UDF may have tread rocky roads in parts of Kollam, Kottayam and Idukki districts, but much of the heat would be on CPM.

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