The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala has secured a firm footing on the campaign front at the expense of the principal Opposition — the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) — and the BJP.
The LDF pipped them to the post when it finalised its list of candidates for all 20 seats in the State, some of whom are now entering their second round of campaigning.
The wait for final list
Both the Congress and the BJP have still not been able to finalise the list and it is now left to the respective national leaderships to announce it either on Monday evening or Tuesday.
While familiar group fights seem to have hit the Congress gameplan, indecisiveness over the choice of candidates for particular constituencies is delaying the proceedings in the BJP.
The Congress high command is still debating its choices for the two northern constituencies of Wayanad, considered its pocket borough, and Vadakara, where the LDF has fielded CPI(M) strongman P Jayarajan.
While the Wayanad seat is likely to go to T Siddiq, an Oommen Chandy loyalist, the UDF has not yet found a candidate to take on Jayarajan in Vadakara.
The high command could end up assigning the task to a hesitant Mullappally Ramachandran, Pradesh Congress Committee President and a sitting MP, who had made clear his intention to sit out this time round.
As for Wayanad, speculation that Siddiq could be the candidate has already caused heartburns among the party faction.
The UDF has seen major flare-ups after former Union Minister and veteran KV Thomas was denied a seat from his traditional stronghold of Ernakulam in favour of a young sitting MLA Hibi Eden. Thomas protested, saying he was given a raw deal, leading to speculations that he might ship out and join the BJP. But Thomas scotched all rumours and said he would extend support to Eden and work for him in Ernakulam. This was the second major moment of reckoning for the UDF after PJ Joseph of the Kerala Congress (M) revolted after being denied a seat from Kottayam.
As for the BJP, the party national leadership and the RSS have signalled that they would have the final say on candidates after the State leadership submitted a list of probables.
Last heard, the aspirants may not get the seats they have pitched for. The only certainty seems to be the candidature of Kummanam Rajasekharan, who resigned as the Governor of Mizoram in response to the national leadership’s call. Rajasekharan is likely to contest from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency.
Heavyweights to sit out
At least three senior leaders of the State unit, including MT Ramesh and Shobha Surendran, General Secretaries, may have to sit out after being denied their favourite seats. K Surendran, firebrand leader, General Secretary and a hero of the Sabarimala campaign, is also unlikely to get his preferred Pathanamthitta or Thrissur seats, as State President PS Sreedharan Pillai seems to have reserved Pathanamthitta for himself while the latter is likely to go to NDA partner Bharat Dharma Jana Sena.