Thiruvananthapuram: The contrast is too glaring to be missed. While the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has started its poll campaign, factional feud has delayed the candidate lists of both the Congress-headed United Democratic Front (UDF) and the BJP. No wonder, the LDF has gained an initial advantage, having completed its seat-sharing exercise smoothly.
The Front has launched its poll campaign. And the candidates have already hit the campaign trail with enthusiasm and gusto. In glaring contrast, both the UDF and the BJP are still struggling to finalise their candidates as infighting is preventing the preparation of the lists in both the camps.
Groupism is particularly virulent in the Congress camp. The dominant groups, the A group led by former chief minister Oommen Chandy and the I group headed by leader of the opposition Ramesh Chennithala are locked in a grim battle to get their candidates in. To cite an instance, the I group wants its candidate to contest from Wayanad, a sure seat of the Congress which is at present in its control.
On its part, the A group is insisting on its candidate T. Siddique, Kozhikode DCC president, to be named from Wayanad. Another bone of contention is the Idukki seat. While the A group favours Kerala Youth Congress president Dean Kuriakkose to contest from Idukki, the I group is backing the candidature of Joseph Vazhakkan for the seat.
The BJP finds itself in a similar plight. Thanks to fierce infighting, the NDA is still unable to finalise its candidates. The most sought-after seats are Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Palakkad and Thrissur. Only the candidate for Thiruvananthapuram has been finalized so far. Former Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajashekharan will be the BJP candidate from the Kerala capital.
As for the other three favourite seats, there are too many contenders. BJP state general secretary MT Ramesh is on record that he will contest only from Pathanamthitta on which another general secretary. K Surendran has also set his sights. But from the look of things, it appears that Surendran may end up without getting the ticket. The reason: The Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), an ally of the BJP, has staked its claim for Thrissur.
And if BDJS chief Thushar Vellappally decides to enter the fray, – unconfirmed reports say he has agreed to contest from Thrissur because of intense pressure from BJP president Amit Shah – then Surendran will be out of the race. The latter is not interested in contesting from any other seat. This may deepen the factionalism plaguing the party in the post-poll period.
