BJP all set to open its Lok Sabha account in Kerala (Image: Organiser)
The 2014 elections changed the course of Indian politics; today, ten years later, every area of the country has been touched and motivated to be a part of the BJP’s unstoppable path. Under scrutiny are Kerala’s appeasement politics, the Congress, and the so-called undisturbed bastion of Communists. Kerala’s lofty claims to be the best role model for the nation are being closely examined by the political and public. Now is the time for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Even though the BJP has not so far opened its account in the Lok Sabha elections in the state, this time the party and the people in general have high hopes. They do pin excellent hopes on Thiruvananthapuram, Attingal, Thrissur, and Palakkad constituencies. Moreover, PM Modi, during his recent visit to campaign in the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency, expressed the hope of a double-digit win for the BJP. Even though the BJP is likely to win several seats, here are the details of the most hopeful seats.
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram is at the southern tip of the state. Lok Sabha constituency comprises seven assembly segments. They are Kazhakkoottam, Vattiyoorkkavu, Thiruvananthapuram, Nemom, Parasala, Kovalam, and Neyyattinkara. The total number of voters in the 2019 Lok Sabha election was 1,371,427.
In terms of demographics, the constituency has a population of 17, 03,909 as of the 2011 census. 27.83% of the population lives in rural areas, while 72.17% live in cities. The SC and ST ratios are 9.82% and 0.5%, respectively. According to the voter list published by the Election Commission (EC) for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the total number of voters is 13,34,665 and the polling stations are 1077. In Thiruvananthapuram district, the total population is 33,01,427 (Census 2011). Hindus constitute 66.46% and Christians 19.10%. Muslims constitute 13.72%. The total number of votes polled was 73.45% in 2019, 68.63% in 2014, and 65.74% in 2019. Out of seven, five assembly seats in the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency are manned by the CPM and one each by the Congress and Kerala Congress (Joseph). Kerala Congress (J) is a constituent of the CPM-led ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). Sasi Tharoor of Congress has been representing the Lok Saha constituency since 2014.
Here is the voting pattern at a glance:
This time, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a BJP candidate and union minister, is contesting from the constituency to carry out PM Narendra Modi’s mission to take Bharat to the top of the world. His IT and technological experience and background, his management skills, his reputation as a pioneer in the mobile and digital revolution, and his sterling capacity for programme implementation make him the best candidate. Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s credit as a successful minister in Narendra Modi’s team gives him a comfortable position to win the election. Modiji’s visit to Thiruvananthapuram on February 28 has created a bright atmosphere in favor of Rajeev Chandrasekhar in the capital city and the entire constituency.
Shashi Tharoor tries his luck for the third consecutive term. Even though he has been representing the constituency for the last ten years, voters there cannot find any of his achievements. Even Congressmen do not like him as much as they did until one year ago. His initial response to the Hamas attack against Israel was not music for the ears of the Muslim voters. And, since he somersaulted from his previous stand, non-BJP nationalist voters have decided to vote him out.
Then comes CPI’s Pannyan Raveendran. Even though he had won a by-election in 2005, his leader, P.K. Vadudevan Nair, died, leaving the constituency vacant. The group equations within CPI do not give him a comfortable condition. Therefore, his situation is likely to be worse than that of his party colleague, C. Divakaran, in 2019.
Thrissur
Thrissur is considered to be the cultural capital of the state. The Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency comprises seven assembly segments. They are Guruvayoor, Manaloor, Olloor, Thrissur, Nattika (SC), Irinjalakkuda, and Puthukkad. Five MLAs belong to CPI and two to CPM; all are LDF. Total electorates in 2019 were 12,68,671. Male voters: 6,09,579; female voters: 6,59,089. Total votes polled: 10,41,869 (82.50%). Valid votes: 10,37,616 (81.80%).
T.N. Pratapan is not all warmly welcomed in the constituency. People say that he has not done any service to his voters during his tenure as MP. Moreover, his main political agenda is criticizing the RSS and BJP. At the same time, BJP president K. Surendran alleged that Pratapan has been hand in glove with the banned terror outfit PFI; his social media account is operated by a PFI man who was interrogated in connection with the Jamia Millia conspiracy. He was in charge of creating narratives for Pratapan. Surendran pointed out that Pratapan had received a copy of Thejus in October 2019 during a promotion function. It is the Malayalam daily allegedly controlled by SDPI and PFI. Even Congressmen had raised the allegation that Pratapan tried to protect a PFI man who was alleged to be behind the murder of Congressman Noushad.
At the same time, BJP candidate Suresh Gopi is the most popular candidate in the Thrissur constituency. His charisma, personal integrity, transparent character, generous and judicious expenditure of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (Rs 5 crore per annum) funds, and boundless charity activities even after ceasing to be an MP—even spending from his own pocket—are talks of the constituency. Therefore, poor and middle-class people and women voters long to see Suresh Gopi as their representative in the Lok Sabha. It is to be remembered that female voters outnumber male voters in Thrissur. The tremendous success of Mahila Samgamam on January 1, 2024, addressed by PM Modiji is an indication of the stand and mood of women in the constituency. Therefore, observers believe that Suresh Gopi’s cakewalk is inevitable.
Attingal
The Attingal Parliamentary Constituency consists of seven assembly segments, such as Varkkala, Attingal, Chirayinkeezhu, Nedumangadu, Vamanapuram, Aruvikkara, and Kattakkada. In 2019, senior Congress leader Adoor Prakash was the winner. Here are the details of the votes bagged by the mainstream parties:
This time, the constituency witnesses a high-voltage contest. Union Minister V. Muraleedharan is the BJP candidate. Sitting MP, former state minister and senior Congress leader Adoor Prakash is fielded by Congress, and V. Joy, sitting MLA of CPM, contests for LDF.
Muraleedharan, despite being the union minister, is always involved in Kerala affairs. Keralites find a saviour in their relatives in Muraleedharan, who work and live abroad. Such a sterling mission has he been accomplishing as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. His calibre had been proven when our countrymen faced various sorts of issues while living abroad. He was a genuine colleague of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in discharging incredible duties. It was evident during the evacuation of our students from China during COVID-19 and during the Ukrainian War. He fought an impressive election contest in 2016 at Kazhakkootam, an assembly segment in the Attingal parliamentary constituency. Since then, he has been actively involved in the social and political scenario in the constituency. Moreover, people know that the contest between Prakash and Joy is a friendly one because whoever wins is going to sit on opposition benches and vote against Modiji. But people know that a victorious Muraleedharan will be a Union minister; hence, Muraleedhran is the best bet from Attingal. Voters want to see him as a Lok Sabha MP instead of a Rajya Sabha MP. (Currently, Muraleedharan is a Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra.) He is the Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs and Deputy Government Chief Whip in the Rajya Sabha. Voters know that it will not be a surprise if Muraleedharan finds a place in the Union Cabinet. So, political observers do not expect anything less than an electoral win for Muraleedharan.
Palakkad
Palakkad district and Palakkad Lok Sabha constituency are in the Malabar area of the country. It consists of seven assembly segments, namely Pattambi, Shornnur, Ottappalam, Kongad (SC), Mannarkkat, Malampuzha, and Palakkad.
In 2019, Congress candidate V.K. Sreekantan won the contest. The statistics are as follows:
Here are the details as per the 2011 census.
Candidates this time:
Even though the BJP has missed its win in the past, party state general secretary C. Krishnakumar is for a win this time. The situation has changed drastically in Palakkad since 2019. The shift in the political scenario had the most visible effect when PM Modiji came to Palakkad town on March 19. Thousands of people lined up on either side of the 1-kilometre road, weathering the scorching heat, to catch a glimpse of the world leader during his mammoth road show. Palakkad is the first municipality the BJP came to rule in the state. Congress MP Sreekantan has lost his entire popularity after one year in the Lok Sabha. The people of Palakkad have not heard much about his performance in Lok Sabha. M.B. Rajesh of CPM, who won the election in 2014, had not given any remarkable performances during his tenure. Vijayaraghavan of CPM is a former MP who had not done anything ‘great’ during his tenure. So, this time, CPM does not have any reason to smile. But Krishnakumar has proved his mettle as the vice chairman of Palakkad Municipality. The nationalist forces are rallying around the BJP. The heinous murder of RSS senior worker Sreenivasan has made the voters more conscious of the need for a BJP win.
BJP’s performance in running the municipality administration has proved that the party can shoulder any administrative challenges when they get a chance. Krishnakumar’s performance as the Municipal Vice Chairman was sterling. This being the case, it is sure, that Krishnakumar will come out with flying colours.
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