KOTTAYAM: Following the Karnataka election results, Fr Jacob Palakkappilly, KCBC deputy secretary general and spokesperson, took to his Facebook page to express his thoughts. He wrote,”If Congress’ Kerala leadership follows the functioning style of Karnataka Congress and upholds secularism, the secular voters in Kerala will support Congress.” This message was seen as a clear indication for the Congress party, which has been concerned about the diminishing support of Christian voters within the UDF coalition in Kerala. In response,the UDF leadership wasted no time in extending an open invitation to Kerala Congress (M), a former coalition partner.
The Congress leadership is well aware that winning back the trust of the Christian vote base is crucial for the UDF’s resurgence. They also understand that re-establishing ties through the Kerala Congress would be the most effective approach. Given that the P J Joseph-led Kerala Congress lacks influence and connections with the Catholic Church, bringing back Jose K Mani’s Kerala Congress (M) to the UDF coalition would significantly improve their relationship with the Church.
Nevertheless, the UDF leadership acknowledges the challenges they will face due to the prevailing political dynamics in the state. “Although KC (M) rejoining the UDF seems unlikely, they will eventually be compelled to leave the LDF due to the Left front’s indifference towards farmers and its appeasement politics. With its Christian vote base as a significant strength, KC (M) cannot afford to disregard the concerns raised by the Church, particularly the Catholic Church,” stated a senior Congress leader, speaking anonymously.
While Church authorities have refrained from commenting on Congress’ invitation to KC (M), sources indicate that it is viewed as a positive gesture by the church. “There is currently no relevance to such discussions. However, the UDF would benefit in the long run by bringing back KC (M) into the fold. The UDF lost its Christian representation when it expelled KC (M) from the coalition,” said Church sources.
Meanwhile, the Church believes that any such move is unlikely to happen before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The return of KC (M) would depend on multiple factors, including the internal dynamics within the Congress, the UDF’s political resurgence, and the prospects of the LDF government securing a third term in power. “It’s true that some KC (M) leaders and members wish to return to the UDF due to the strained relations between the Church and the LDF government. However, they are adopting a ‘wait and watch’ approach as the UDF has yet to prove its ability to regain power in the next Assembly election,” said a KC (M) leader.
At the same time, the LDF is making concerted efforts to improve its relationship with the Church by organizing a series of protests addressing issues in the rubber sector. As part of this initiative, the CPM plans to hold a day-night protest in front of Raj Bhavan and a long march by farmers in Kottayam. The three-day long march will begin on Wednesday and conclude on Thursday, while the day-night protest is scheduled for May 25 and 26, concluding with a march to Raj Bhavan on May 26.
Move to win trust of Christian voters
The Congress leadership is well aware that winning back the trust of the Christian vote base is crucial for the UDF’s resurgence. They also understand that re-establishing ties through the Kerala Congress would be the most effective approach