Possible division in anti-BJP votes leaves UDF, LDF jittery

Shashi Tharoor says CPI preaches alliance dharma in Wayanad over Rahul Gandhi’s candidature from that seat, but plays Sangh Parivar game in Thiruvananthapuram by dividing antiBJP votes

Amid the sound and fury of the Lok Sabha election campaigning in Kerala, the ruling front and the Opposition seem bedevilled by a quieter but nagging worry that their highdecibel sparring at the hustings can divide the sizeable antiBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vote.

Shashi Tharoor, Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and the party’s candidate from the highstakes Thiruvananthapuram parliamentary constituency, seemed to articulate the foreboding in a post on Tuesday on ◣ (formerly Twitter).

“It’s ironic that the same@cpofindiathat complains about @RahulGandhi’s candidature in Wayanad is playing the BJP’s game in Thiruvananthapuram. The only effect of the CPI’s campaign against me in Thiruvananthapuram is to divide the antiBJP vote. And they preach alliance dharma in Wayanad!” Mr. Tharoor said.

Mr. Tharoor appeared to direct his pique more at the Communist Party of India (CPI). The CPI has fielded two veterans, Pannian Raveendran and Annie Raja, against the incumbent Mr. Tharoor and Rahul Gandhi in Thiruvananthapuram and Wayanad respectively. Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar is the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency.

CPI general secretary D. Raja said the Congress’ failure to unite the antiSangh Parivar vote had let the BJP slip through on a minority share of the ballot to victory in some State elections held in 2023. He claimed the Congress could serve the INDIA bloc’s secular cause better if it took the fight to the BJP in its Hindi heartlands instead of tasking its national leaders to battle an ally in Kerala.

Fierce contest

The latest sniping about dividing the sizeable antiBJP vote in a pivotal Lok Sabha election has shrilled through the State’s electorate even as the Left Democratic Front and the United Democratic Front are locked in a fierce contest to emerge as the leading challenger party for minority community votes.

LDF’s constant campaign refrain revolves around portraying the Congress as a party that toed a Hindu majoritarian line to a lesser degree than the BJP. It also argues that the Congress’ secular guard rails are shaky, given the increasing number of defections to the BJP.

In turn, the Congress has slammed the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for kowtowing the BJP’s bid to diminish the party. It has accused CPI(M) leaders of having business partnerships with their BJP counterparts to insulate illgotten wealth from the scrutiny of Central agencies. Congress leaders have also accused the CPI(M) of using a campaign style that allows for lastminute tactical voting to undermine the party in certain constituencies.

SURESH ALLEPPEY Tide turns: Boats stranded after sea receded by around 50 m at Purakkad in Alappuzha on Tuesday morning. The phenomenon, according to local residents, was not new and attributed it to tidal activity. Authorities also ruled out the possibility of a tsunami.