THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Apart from its mission 60 programme to secure maximum seats in Kerala assembly, Congress leadership is hatching new moves to garner as much as foothold in the state. The central leadership has asked state leadership to secure as much as seats as possible from the Malabar region, where the party’s influence is negligible. Rahul Gandhi who is coming to Kerala for the poll campaign will spend more time in the region. When the poll notification is out, Rahul Brigade will also start to camp in the region. Delhi based leaders like Shama Muhammed is contesting this time as part of the party’s wider strategy to garner Malabar region.

This time, Rahul Brigade will witness a new team comprising members from Youth Congress and NSU. Congress will field strong candidates in CPM’s strongholds. As Rahul represents Wayanad, state leadership holds the opinion that party should get more seats from Malabar. If Congress didn’t get more seats, then it will become an issue of national importance.

As per the latest reports, the condition of Malabar Congress is precarious. The party leaders of the district hope that Rahul’s presence will help the party to secure those seats which were held by others. Sources in the party also say that unexpected leaders will be fielded as candidates this time.

The grand plan….

Rahul and his team will be more active in Wayanad-Kozhikode region. Malabar will also have other leaders including its IT cell. Congress might make moves to claim Kozhikode. The main intention is to win Kozhikode north, south and Beypore with a landslide majority. UDF is gearing to secure 35 seats from six districts among which 15 seats are intended to be secured by Congress. The right front will only get any benefits if Congress is able to secure maximum seats, otherwise, the earlier notion of ‘League, UDF’s saviour’ notion might become more powerful after this election.

In the last election, CPM took away many traditional Congress strongholds in the area. This time, the party’s main agenda will be to win back those seats. The political leniency of these constituencies is also volatile in nature. These constituencies are Koilandi, Uduma and Ponnani. Earlier Congress has also shown its strength in these areas and the party have high hopes in Nadapuram and Perambara.

Congress is weak

AICC secretary Tariq Anwar and his team evaluate that the party is very weak in the Malabar region. Even though the Muslim League is omnipotent in the region, Congress cannot be seen anywhere. Congress have only one MLA each from all the six districts. A total of 60 constituencies are there in all the six districts combined. UDF was able to secure 23 seats from Kasargod, Kannur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Palakkad in 2016, of these 17 was secured by League.

Congress dream to secure 15 seats itself sounds impossible. In Malabar, the party’s organisation set up is frail and infirm. Congress is not able to do anything in areas where League have no influence. This shows that the League is the indomitable force in the region and in the last local body polls, it was league which fared better than Congress.

Party’s performance in 2016

Congress contested in 31 seats in 2016 assembly polls but it failed everywhere except in Peravur, Trittala, Irukkur, Battery, Vandoor and Palakkad. The party was not able to win at least one seat in Kozhikode and Kasargod. Whereas League which contested in 21 emerged victorious in 17 seats. Congress lost in four of its sitting seats.

In 2016, UDF also lost the Kalpetta seat which was given to LJD, This time with LJD’s exit from the front, Congress might raise claim for the seat. The party might be giving preference to reclaim the seats lost to LDF. With the existing six seats, if the party is able to win the five seats which it lost last time, it can easily reach the magic number of 11.