Palakkad by-election: Fronts preparing to put up strong fight

PALAKKAD: Constant infighting and controversies... All three political fronts are sweating in the heat of battle in Palakkad. The by-election in Palakkad is a contest that the state is eagerly looking forward to. Although the date of polling has been changed, all three fronts are equally preparing to put up a strong fight.

UDF, which is eyeing its fourth consecutive victory in Palakkad, has fielded Youth Congress president Rahul Mamkootathil as its candidate. The CPM is trying to regain the seat it lost in 2006 through Dr P. Sarin who came from the Congress camp. Meanwhile, the BJP has fielded state secretary C Krishna Kumar as its candidate to ensure a three-cornered fight. Political leaders are working hard to plug the leaks in a constituency with strong undercurrents.

The Palakkad Assembly Constituency consists of the Palakkad Municipality and the panchayats of Kannadi, Pirayiri, and Mathur. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been holding power in the municipality for the past two terms.

Headache for UDF
The waves of dissent that erupted following the candidate announcement have yet to settle, causing challenges for the UDF leadership. The defection of leaders and workers has become a major headache for the party. Several regional leaders are leaving the party criticising the power group within the Congress. The dissatisfaction among the ranks and mandal leaders in Piriyari, where they received 12,815 votes last time, will backfire on the UDF. The controversy over the DCC's letter also surfaced in the meantime. Additionally, the recent handshake controversy has put the Congress on the defensive. The party is pinning in on the hope that the opposition leaders and other MLAs stand united to ensure Rahul's victory in Palakkad.

Infighting in BJP

Meanwhile, the BJP, which began the election campaign two months ago, is facing a tough time in Kerala due to internal conflicts. The decision to field C. Krishnakumar as the candidate had sparked widespread dissent within the party. The party is now divided between Krishnakumar's and Sobha Surendran's factions. To make matters worse, Sandeep Varier, a popular BJP leader with a significant social media following, has chosen to distance himself from campaigning efforts. This is a significant blow to the party, considering Varier's influence after leaders like K Surendran and Sobha Surendran. Additionally, a strong section of the community in the city is unhappy with C. Krishnakumar. To prevent vote leakage, RSS has taken charge at the booth level.

No symbol for CPM

Fielding P. Sarin, who moved from Congress to the Left camp, and the absence of a party symbol are causing headaches for the Left Front. The Left camp is hopeful that P. Sarin can cause a split in traditional Congress votes. It hopes to make huge advancements in areas, including Pirayiri. The CPM’s acceptance of former Congress members is also part of this strategy. The party believes that Sarin’s high profile will influence neutral voters as well.