The poll battle in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 has reached Kerala, as the Southern State will go to vote in the second phase on all 20 Lok Sabha seats on April 26.
Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) — parties in the I.N.D.I Alliance together launched their Lok Sabha election campaign, sharing a stage and asking people to vote against BJP. However, the situation is different in Kerala. Part of the alliance, Congress and Communist parties, are fighting tooth and nail against each other.
This is exemplified by the fact that the CPI has strategically nominated one of its most formidable contenders, Annie Raja, to contest against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. This move underscores the intensity of the political rivalry between the two parties, despite their collaboration at the national level.
For BJP, the party has not succeeded in winning a single seat since the commencement of the party in 1980. Interestingly, in this election, the wait for victory in the State in the General Elections may end under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The BJP is banking on various beneficiary schemes like Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Digital India etc, run by the Modi Government. There are over 1.5 crore beneficiaries of Central schemes, and the State has witnessed development on the infrastructure front. It has provided the PM Kisan Yojana to almost 37 lakh people in the State, as well as initiatives like the Vande Bharat to Mudra scheme and multiple welfare schemes to the people of Kerala, which could help the BJP in garnering votes.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the United Democratic Front (UDF) garnered 37.56 per cent of the votes and secured 15 seats, while the Left Democratic Front (LDF) secured 25.97 per cent of the votes and one seat, and the BJP could get the support 13 per cent of the electorates. It is to be noted that BJP has increased its vote share by four times in 2019 in comparison to 2014. This time, the BJP is hopeful that its vote share will increase, translating into seats. BJP has fielded candidates who can cash in on the trend. It is targeting select constituencies Thiruvananthapuram, Attingal, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur, and Palakkad, Wayanad—and expects to win maximum.
BJP has fielded Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Thiruvananthapuram, where he has managed to crack the impression created by sitting MP Shashi Tharoor that he was unbeatable. On Pathanamthitta constituency, where there are around 40 per cent of Christian voters who will determine the election outcome, Anil Antony, son of veteran congress leader AK Antony, is the BJP candidate.
BJP’s outreach to Christian Voters
BJP has actively pursued Christian voters, constituting over 20 per cent of the State’s electorate. Notably, the Christian community also expresses satisfaction with the Modi Government’s work, whether it’s the implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) or the country’s growing global recognition. They are happy with India’s foreign policy approach, which prioritises national interests without compromising the benefits of its own people.
Varkey Eapen, a resident of Pathanamthitta and a civil engineer by profession, told the Organiser that he is deeply satisfied with the economic policies of the Modi Government. “I support BJP and Modi primarily because only the BJP can provide a stable government in India. Our GDP is growing, and there have been no corruption and scams in the past 10 years,” he stated.
“I was in Oman before 2015, and during Narendra Modi’s official visit in 2015, I began to admire him. He has a vision for India. The Congress and CPM want to keep people illiterate so they can continue to exploit them, ” he said.
“Elderly people are habitual of voting for CPM and Congress in Kerala. Traditionally, our community has supported the Congress, but now there is a shift, the youth is concerned about the progress of the country and they will vote for Modi,” he added.
On the issue of Love Jihad, he stated, “It is a plan by Islamists that has existed for the past 25 years. It is particularly affecting Kerala, especially the Christian community. We want Narendra Modi to take action on this issue and rid us of this menace.”
Another person from Christian community Verghese Jacob, a retired Indian Army personnel, told Organiser that, everyone used to promise us for One Rank One Pension (OROP), but it is Narendra Modi who implemented it. He really cares for the Army, he has provided the Armed Forces with all the modern equipments like Rafale and those who are questioning that Rafale deal was a scam are jokers.
While praising the Modi Government’s decision of abrogating Article 370, he said, “Modi resolved the issue; it was the right decision. Now Kashmir has become peaceful.”
Women Voters: Game-Changers
Women voters in Kerala account for 51.6 per cent in the State, potentially becoming the game-changers in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The UDF has nominated only one woman candidate, while the LDF has three. In contrast, the NDA has already put forward four women candidates. Perhaps the BJP has realised that women voters may achieve victory or defeat, which is why they have allocated more tickets to women compared to other parties.
Ancy Verkay, a homemaker, said that the Modi Government has given recognition to women. It has prioritised women’s safety and passed legislation on women’s reservations, providing an opportunity for us to represent ourselves and our issues on the public platform.
Co-operative Bank Scam
A significant concern for the people of Kerala is the Karuvannur Co-operative Bank scam, which has escalated into a major corruption issue in the State. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the election campaign at Thrissur has promised to “return” the investors’ money at Karuvannur Service Co-operative Bank which has been seized by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
“In Kerala, corruption and scams were initiated by Congress and are now being perpetuated on a much larger scale by Communists. We are unable to get our hard-earned money, which we had saved for the future. I urge PM Modi to address this issue and facilitate the recovery of our funds,” told Stefi, victim of the Karuvannur Co-operative Bank scam to Organiser.
Notably, the BJP’s determined campaign, marked by outreach to diverse voter groups and promises of governance reforms, reflects a strategic bid for electoral success. These efforts signify a possible transformation in the State’s political dynamics, challenging traditional bipolarity between the Congress-led UDF and CPM-led LDF.
