CpM to loSe Kerala bYpoll, but no gainS for oppoSition

The party is trying to turn the by-poll into an anti-Modi platform.

through the game that the father-son duo was only interested in advancing their own interests and not of the NDA per se. So Natesan has now given a call for a conscience vote.

This will result in a lower vote share for the NDA candidate. Sreedharan Pillai, however, doesn’t believe so. “BJP’s acceptability among the minorities has gone up,” he has said. Hope lives, and Pillai, the local man, may know better.

After leaving UDF, K.M. Mani on his part was hoping to join the Left Front, but found it difficult thanks to stiff resistance from CPI and also objections within the party. He has now decided to support the Congress candidate, but not join the front.

“The decision will help boost our morale,” a Congress worker said. The Church too is supporting the UDF, contrary to the expectations of CPM, which has put up a Christian candidate with an eye on that vote share. The Church is unhappy with the government over its decision to water down the liquor policy by opening as many bars as possible that were closed down during the last regime. With the Nair Service Society too keeping equidistance from both the traditional fronts, CPM is finding the going tough this time.

It is at this point that the CPM has deliberately brought the communal element into the electioneering, hinting an unholy alliance between UDF and BJP. State party secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has alleged that Congress candidate Vijayakumar is a Sangh Parivar man.

In this case, raising the bogey of communalism may not hold since Vijayakumar is the national vicepresident of the Ayyappa Seva Sangham, an organisation helping devotees of Sabarimala temple and Chengannur is a major base for pilgrims heading to the temple. He is known in the area for his services to Ayyappa “bakths” known simply as “swamis”.

Though this shows the desperation of CPM, it has succeeded in blunting opposition attacks against Left misrule. Both BJP and Congress have gone on the defensive.

While the BJP has repeated its charge that Congress is helping CPM, Congress claims that it is the CPM which is consciously encouraging the growth of BJP in the state. However, this communal card may not work in favour of CPM. It may help Congress regain the seat, but the verdict may not be considered as one against the Pinarayi government. That is what the CPM wants.