Outcome of the Kerala polls will reflect the mindset of the Hindus

With Kerala having a 50 per cent Hindu and 50 per cent Muslim-Christian population and Hindu votes proving crucial, the outcome of the polls will reflect the mindset of the Hindus, who are feeling threatened.

Both the CPM and the Congress wooing Jehadi groups like NDF, Madhani’s PDP, SIMI, SIO, ISM, Kanthapuram Musaliar and increased number of seats in Malappuram have caused fear and anguish among the Hindus. Also due to the UDF/CPM appeasing minorities, the entire economy, land, educational institutions, coast, are all under the control of Christians and Muslims. While no amount has still been paid to the dependants of 102 pilgrims who died in stampede in Sabarimala, Rs 10 lakh each was paid to five victims of clashes between Christian-Muslim fishermen. Despite state getting crores of rupees from pilgrims coming to Sabarimala, no infrastructure is being developed. Angred at this injustice to Hindus, there is a massive flow from Congress and CPM to the RSS and BJP. Even in SC/ST colonies where RSS had no entry, shakhas are being organised. Hindus from all castes, right from Brahmins, Nairs, Ezhavas, OBCs, SC/ST, Vanvasis are willing to work and vote for BJP in large number.

The CPM’s hobnobbing with Jehadi groups like Jamaat-E-Islami, continues even now despite strong opposition for its Hindu workers. CPM’s murderous attacks against RSS in Kannur, attacks on police stations, molesting of lady constables and arrogance of CPM, DYFI and SFI caders have made it unpopular.

BJP’s Presence

Confident of gaining entry into Kerala Assembly and increasing its vote share from 12 lakh to 18-20 lakh, the BJP has put up candidates in all seats and has strong presence in 20 odd seats, where it may get 30 per cent or more of the polled votes. Due to the strong triangular contest, it hopes to emerge victorious at 5-6 seats. Opinion polls have also predicted 2 seats for BJP in Kerala.

BJP stalwart and former Union Minister O Rajagopal is giving a tough fight and sleepless nights to CPM leader V Sivankutty in Nemom in Thiruvananthapuram. The Congress-led UDF is a distant third in campaigning. Rajagopal had initiated massive development work in the Railways and Urban Development during the NDA regime. He is a respected politician whom even AK Antony praised as ‘Ambassador of Kerala.’ Rajagopal is drawing enormous support from even Muslim and Christian voters. Smt Sushma Swaraj campaigned for him on April 1 and Shri Arun Jaitley flagged off his Road Yatra on April 3.Even though Rajagopal lost in Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency in 2004, he came first in the present delimited Nemom seat.

Similarly, in Manjeswar and Kasargod in the northern-most end of Kerala, bordering Karnataka, with a large Kannada population, BJP is fighting to win, where it consistantly comes second, right from 1987. In all earlier polls, CPM voted to Muslim League to defeat BJP. In 2006, in Manjeswar, CPM won by fluke and now it is its sitting seat.

The CPM-Muslim League deal to defeat BJP has angered Hindu supporters of CPM and Congress in Manjeswar and they are working wholeheartedly for BJP state general secretary and youth Icon Shri K Surendran’s victory. Surendran has taken Manjeswar by storm, drawing support even from Muslims. CPM candidate Kunhambu and Muslim League’s Abdul Razak are way behind.

Similarly, in Kasargod, Jayalakshmi V Bhat who is president of a BJP-ruled Panchayat, is making strong bid to win the seat.

Shri Udaybhaskar, who is a Keralite with industries in the North, is giving a tough fight to CPM’s Divakaran and Congress’s Shafi Parambil in Palakkad.

Sobha Surendran in Pudukkad, PK Krishnadas in Kattakada, BK Shekar in Thiruvananthapuram, VV Rajesh in Vattiyoorkavu, Shivaraman in Nenmara and Radhakrishna Menon in Chengannur are all giving tough fights to the UDF and LDF making the contest truly three-cornered.

NSS and SNDP representing Nair and Ezhava Hindus have given silent support to many BJP candidates including O Rajagopal. Vellapalli Natesan, general secretary of the 65 lakh strong Hindu Ezhava community has said that since both LDF and UDF have cheated Hindus, they cannot be faulted if they vote for the BJP.

At almost 20-25 seats, the UDF and LDF are on tenterhooks due to strong BJP presence and campaign. The people of Kerala fed up with the communal politics of both UDF and LDF appeasing of minorities, go-slow on terrorists, trampling of Hindus and criminalisation of CPM are thinking of a third alternative. Inspite of both fronts ruling intermittently for 5 years from 1980, there is no development in Kerala. Depsite natural resources, trained manpower and a 10 lakh NRI population in Gulf, US, Europe etc. Kerala is bottom-most among Indian states.

That BJP has been recognised by the people as a third alternative by all, was proved when CPM supported MLA, Ex-IAS Officer and a Christian Alphons Kannanthanam joined the BJP recently and is campaigning for Shri O Rajagopal and other BJP candidates.

Realising the potential of the consolidated Hindu votes, both CPM and Congress are very guarded in their approach towards BJP.

Finally, a desperate LDF, which even attacked mediamen, voters and poll officials and an infighting-Congress with leaders like Padmaja, MM Hassan, Sobhana George, Siddique sulking at denied seats is facing a rejuvenated and strong BJP with eyes strongly set on seats in Assembly and 18-20 lakh votes. Let us wait till May 13!