Campaign ends in Kerala; state to go to polls tomorrow

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The intense election campaign marked by controversies and promises has come to an end. Kerala will go to the polls tomorrow, and the final decision now rests with the people. The LDF is confident of securing a third consecutive term based on its governance over the past ten years. The UDF hopes to return to power by capitalising on anti-incumbency sentiments. Meanwhile, the NDA believes it can emerge as a strong force and win seats in Kerala.

All three fronts are highly confident, but there is still uncertainty about how effective their campaigns have been. Caste and community factors are expected to play a key role in the final outcome.

For the CPM, losing power would be a major setback as it currently leads the only communist government in India. However, the LDF is hopeful that its development record over the last decade will work in its favour. The Congress-led UDF fears internal challenges if it remains in the opposition after ten years. Still, it is confident of overcoming this through strong anti-government sentiment among voters. The BJP, part of the NDA, is aiming to win multiple seats to strengthen its base in Kerala. It believes that development initiatives under Prime Minister Narendra Modi will help its prospects.

Hopes and concerns

LDF:

• Initial challenges arose due to dissent from some senior leaders within the CPM.
• The party believes it managed to stay united despite challenges like the criticism from former minister G. Sudhakaran in Alappuzha.
• The LDF is hopeful that its “progress card,” highlighting the implementation of 874 out of 900 promises from its 2021 manifesto, will work in its favour.

UDF:

• The alliance is banking on welfare promises such as free bus travel for women in KSRTC buses and monthly financial aid for female college students.
• It hopes to win with a strong margin due to anti-incumbency sentiment.
• However, there are concerns about whether internal issues during candidate selection may affect voting.

NDA:

• The alliance is confident that its “Viksit Kerala” vision and Modi government initiatives have gained public support.
• It focused its campaign on development rather than controversies and expects to win multiple seats.
• There are concerns about whether allegations of a CPM-BJP understanding, raised by the Congress, may impact its performance.

Political accusations continue
The LDF and UDF have accused each other of receiving support from different organisations. The UDF has criticised the LDF over SDPI support, while the LDF has targeted the UDF over links with Jamaat-e-Islami. Statements by Rajeev Chandrasekhar of the BJP and A. Vijayaraghavan of the CPM suggesting that the Muslim League would dominate governance if the UDF comes to power have also drawn reactions from UDF leaders.