Kerala’s Local Self Government Bodies election result has served as a startling and rude shock to the CPM and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) it leads.
Here is the nutshell of the results:
The aforementioned statistics show a clear debacle for the CPM and the LDF it leads. It also shows the revival of the UDF to an extent and great leaps forward by the NDA/BJP.
CPM faces criticism from within:
The majority of political observers believe that the BJP’s electoral victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation reflects sustained hard work and the party’s ability to convert a political crisis into an opportunity, thereby establishing its presence. They also attribute the outcome, to a significant extent, to the poor performance of LDF Mayor Arya Rajendran, who was elevated to the post with much fanfare amid claims by the CPM that it was introducing the youngest Mayor in the world.
Now, Arya faces powerful cyberattacks from her own comrades in the CPM. They allege that the electoral debacle is the price the Communist party is paying for her arrogance. Some of them say that today’s comrades enjoy a PhD in arrogance, ignorance, corruption, inefficiency, poor performance and nepotism. They argue that this has become the BJP’s advantage. Some of them even wonder whether the Mayor is happy after handing over power to the BJP.
Former councillor Gayathri Babu reportedly stated in her social media post that the Mayor showed contempt towards people whom she considered inferior to her. She alleged that the Mayor converted her office into a caucus for her career-building. Later, Gayathri withdrew the statement, reportedly due to party diktats. Her post came in the wake of the NDA coming to power in a Municipal Corporation (Thiruvananthapuram) for the first time in the history of Kerala. According to reports, Gayathri’s name had been doing the rounds for the position of Mayor five years ago.
This marks a new trend in the CPM. The party has now learnt to criticise its own leadership. They have begun to call a spade a spade.
BJP for Sarva Dharma Samabhav
Pseudo-secularists shout in one voice, from the rooftops 24×7, that the BJP is communal, Hindu fascist, extremist, and what not. Here, BJP’s Mumtas Thaha is one among hundreds of party workers who ridicule the aforementioned allegations. Mumtas has been elected to the Thrissur Municipal Corporation. Her election campaign theme was Prime Minister Modi’s developmental policies. Even though the Congress-led UDF was elected to power, the BJP’s Muslim candidate’s electoral victory is highly remarkable, as she captured a sitting UDF seat.
Mumtas was the BJP’s only Muslim candidate to the Thrissur Municipal Corporation. From the very beginning, she had stated that Prime Minister Modi’s developmental policies brought her to the party. She has been a BJP member for the last eight years. She worked hard for Suresh Gopi during the Lok Sabha elections.
CPM’s post-election violence in the State
In Kadakkal, Kollam district, CPM goons attacked the house of Anupama, who won the election from there. They physically assaulted her and threatened to kill her if she stepped out of her house.
In Thrikkannapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, CPM goons attacked the BJP election committee office and destroyed furniture. They tore banners and flex boards. Vehicles were also attacked.
In Kolla, Neyyattinkara, CPM goons attacked BJP workers. Two BJP workers were injured. In Kanjirappilly, Kottayam district, a UDF counting agent and other workers, including a woman, were attacked.
In Panoor, Kannur district, a CPM killer squad attacked the house of a UDF worker. The assailants brandished swords and demolished a car and a bike parked in the courtyard. They wore masks to hide their identity. Television channels aired CCTV visuals of the attack.
There are reports of CPM attacks from Wayanad and Kasaragod as well. CPM attacks were also reported from Eramala and Thuruthimoola in Kozhikode, where eight children were injured. In Kozhikode, BJP workers carried out a protest march against police action against innocent BJP workers.
In Punnayoorkkulam, Thrissur district, CPM workers attacked children who were playing, without any knowledge of the seriousness of elections and politics.
PM hails victory
The BJP victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation has created a wave of enthusiasm, joy and ardour across the country. Prime Minister Modi expressed deep gratitude to the people of Kerala for voting for the NDA in the recently concluded Local Self Government Bodies elections. He said the mandate in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation is a historic moment in Kerala’s political history. The Prime Minister stated that the party would work hard for the growth and development of Thiruvananthapuram and for the welfare of its people. He also thanked party workers for their hard work and sincerity during the election campaign.
BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar had declared, prior to the elections, that Prime Minister Modi would visit Thiruvananthapuram within 45 days after the new Mayor takes charge and present a vision document for the development of the city.
BJP leader J.P. Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have also lauded the BJP’s victory in Thiruvananthapuram.
