Like in the past, Kerala has quite a few interesting poll battles lined up, more than a dozen in fact. The state votes for the Assembly on 16 May.
This time, we have film stars pitted against one another, political veterans taking on one another, old friends battling against one another and then, there are two TV journalists rivalling it out. Though the fight in Kerala is mainly between the traditional rival fronts – the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), in a few constituencies there is a triangular contest, with the BJP-led NDA putting up a fight.
Four-Way Contest At Poonjar
The mother of all battles is taking place at Poonjar in Kottayam district, where it is a tough four-way contest. Six-time legislator PC George, who has earlier been with both the traditional fronts and has now become a persona non grata for them. George has decided to fight as independent for the first time. He asserts he will win the seat.
Another battle never witnessed before in the state is at Pathanapuram in Kollam district, where the rival fronts have fielded veteran film stars. For KB Ganesh Kumar, who is aiming for a fourth successive win, the only change is that this is the first time he is part of the LDF combination after he moved out of the UDF. Taking him on is turf is comedian Jagdish, the Congress candidate while the BJP has fielded popular villain Bheemen Reghu.
Journalists and Filmstars Among Contestants
The selection of Reporter TV channel journalist MV Nikesh Kumar by the CPI-M appears to be the biggest surprise. His father MV Raghavan till the ‘80s was the most firebrand CPI-M leader, and after being booted out of the party he has turned into its biggest enemy by becoming a minister on two occasions with the UDF.
Kumar is being fielded from Azhikode in Kannur district, the seat from where his father won in 1987 as a UDF ally. He is taking on sitting legislator KM Shaji of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), an ally of the UDF. Kumar’s colleague in the Reporter TV channel, Veena George, was another surprise choice by the CPI-M. She is taking on senior Congress legislator K Sivadasan Nair at the Aranmula constituency in Pathanamthitta.
In the Kollam constituency, the CPI-M again sprang a surprise when it decided to drop its veteran CITU trade union leader and former minister PK Gurudasan. The party gave the seat to film star Mukesh, who is pitted against Sooraj Ravi, son of late legislator Thoppil Ravi, a close friend and party colleague of top Congress leaders like AK Antony, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and state Congress president VM Sudheeran.
BJP to Target its First Win In Kerala Assembly Polls
Two other poll battles that appear to be closely watched by the BJP, which is yet to open its account in the 140-member Kerala Assembly, is at Manjeswaram, the northernmost constituency in the state. Firebrand BJP leader K Surendran, who finished in second place in the 2011 polls, is taking on sitting IUML legislator PB Abdul Razak.
The second one where the BJP is placing high hopes is in the Nemom constituency in the capital district where former union minister of state O Rajagopal, a regular contestant in all elections since the BJP was formed in Kerala and who finished second in 2011 in Nemom, is being fielded. Rajagopal is taking on sitting legislator of the CPI-MV Sivan Kutty.
At Thrissur, the home turf of former chief minister K Karunakaran, his daughter Padmaja Venugopal is returning to active politics after a gap of 12 years and is taking on popular Communist Party of India (CPI) legislator V.S. Sunilkumar.
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