Kerala will come to know of its future government on Sunday. Even as the results are anxiously awaited there are a few candidates to keep an eye out for on May 2.
The Top Three: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, former CM Oommen Chandy and Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala. The victory of Vijayan from Dharmadam constituency—a Left bastion—is a foregone conclusion. Vijayan had bagged more than 50 per cent votes last time from this constituency and in this election, only his majority is a matter of debate.
Oommen Chandy will also win his constituency Puthuppally which he has been representing for the last 50 years. Though there are rumours of Jacobite consolidation against him there, that is very unlikely to affect his chances though it may bring down his margin.
Ramesh Chennithala who had won with a margin of around 18,000 votes in 2016 is fighting a tough battle from Haripad in Alappuzha. He also has a Congress rebel to face. That he is most likely to be the CM candidate of Congress is expected to add to his chances.
Nemom Constituency: Nemom, which elected the lone BJP MLA in the state in 2016, is the most keenly watched contest in Kerala now. This time, Kummanam Rajasekharan, former Mizoram governor, is representing the BJP replacing veteran O. Rajagopal. While the LDF has fielded V.S. Sivankutty who had lost in 2016, the Congress has brought in K. Muraleedharan, son of former CM K. Karunakaran and current MP from Vadakara as a “VIP candidate” with a vow to recapture Nemom from the BJP. The constituency is witnessing the strongest triangular fight in the state.
Noorbina Rasheed: She is the lone woman candidate from IUML which has fielded a woman after a gap of 25 years. She, contesting from Kozhikode South constituency, is rumoured to be facing antipathy from the conservative sections of the Muslim community.
The CPI(M) triumvirate: P. Rajiv, M.B. Rajesh, M. Swaraj are the next generation faces of the CPI(M) and they all are facing tough battles in their constituencies—Kalamassery, Tripunithura and Trithala—all traditional Congress strongholds. What adds to their woes is that the Sabarimala Samrakshana Samithy—a group of 'Ayappa devotees'—have vowed to defeat these three leaders for aggressively supporting the entry of women in the Sabarimala shrine following the SC verdict. Whether they will pay the price of taking a “progressive” position is something to watch out tomorrow.
K.K. Rema: RMP leader and widow of T.P. Chandrasekharan, a slain RMP leader, is contesting from Vadakara, a Left stronghold, giving jitters to the CPI(M). The UDF is supporting her and Rema is reported to be having an edge over the LDF candidate.
Palakkad: With Metroman E. Sreedharan contesting from Palakkad as the BJP nominee, Palakkad has become a center of attraction. He is learnt to have given a tough fight to sitting Congress MLA and Youth Congress leader Shafi Parambil.
BJP's chances: BJP, which managed to find a toe hold in 2016, is determined to find a foothold this time. Though it claims to win 20 seats, there are only a few seats where it stands a chance. Most probable one is Manjeshwaram from where its state president K. Surendran is contesting. Then it is Palakkad from where Metroman is contesting. Then there is Kazhakkuttam from where one its most aggressive face, Sobha Surendran is contesting and then there is Nemom.
Twenty20: This political party sponsored by industrialist Sabu M. Varghese of Kitex Ltd has made an unprecedented entry into the election scene. The party which had captured four panchayats in the recently held LDG elections is contesting from eight constituencies in Ernakulam districts this time. Of these eight seats, seven are sitting seats of Congress and that is something which gives nightmares to the opposition front.
