Undercurrents crucial as political fronts see Thrikkakara mandate as matter of pride

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thrikkakara is heading to the polling booths today for the by-elections, raising the question of how crucial the political and communal undercurrents will be. Though the verdict will not affect the current political equation in Kerala, the UDF and LDF has taken it as a matter of pride. Although the campaigns started with development as the main agenda, the subsequent political maneuvers aimed at the communal grassroots have raised eyebrows as to how the fronts will be reflected in the verdict.

Most important of all are the ripples created by PC George's hate speech and the hate slogan at the Popular Front rally. Some see George's hate speech as a continuation of the long-standing animosity brewing among Christians against Muslims. In Thrikkakara, where the Syrian Catholics are influential, the BJP has fielded George in their campaign in an attempt to capitalize on this sentiment.

Thrikkakara is estimated to have 37 percent of the vote for various Christian denominations. It also has about 20 percent Muslim votes. In Thrikkakara, the UDF has traditionally been supported by minorities. This time, the Left Front has devised a strategy to make a big dent in it. This is evidenced by the controversy surrounding the candidature. It remains to be seen to what extent the BJP campaign will be reflected. Undercurrents are therefore crucial.

The Jacobites, who are pleased with the positive outcome in the Orthodox-Jacobite dispute, may support the Left Front. The Jacobite sect also has a considerable influence in Thrikkakara. The arrests and controversies surrounding the Alappuzha rally are also being looked into to see how they will elicit a response from Muslim organizations. There is also a curiosity about how the votes of the Twenty20 will influence the final picture.

If the electoral experiment is successful, the Left leadership can interpret the people's mandate as recognition for its second term. They can also see this as an approval for development projects, including K-Rail. On the other hand, the challenge for the UDF is to increase the majority beyond retaining the constituency. In that case, it can be interpreted as a recognition of the Opposition's one year of work and as evidence that the K-Rail project was rejected by the people. Though the BJP does not care about the by-elections, the curtain fell on the campaign with the party playing a significant part in the last hours of the political controversy.

It is clear that the Left Front sees it as a matter of pride to win in Thrikkakara as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan himself led the moves there. Opposition leader VD Satheesan, on the other hand, came up with plans of their own to present a strong fight.