When it comes to the Lok Sabha elections, Kerala has a habit of bucking the national trend. This time, too, it was no different. The BJP, which swept most states in northern and western India, once again failed to open its account in Kerala, despite a conducive atmosphere after its high-octane Sabarimala agitations.
But the biggest loser in the state is the ruling Left Democratic Front. It won only one of the 20 seats, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front swept the rest. The loss in its last bastion may lead to the CPI(M) losing its national party status. “It is paying the price for having an unimaginative leadership,” said C.P. John of the CMP, which is part of the UDF.
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A confluence of factors led to the massive Congress victory. “The minorities, especially Muslims, had become insecure about a possible return of the BJP and Narendra Modi, and they were ready to do anything to stop it,” said Ummar T.K., academician and social critic. “The only option before them was the Congress.”
Rahul Gandhi’s candidature from Wayanad had an impact in many constituencies. Said journalist Stanly Johny, “It seems the party had sensed that Kerala was the only state that favoured them and they wanted to maximise the gains from the state. It paid off.” Gandhi won by a margin of more than four lakh votes.
The Congress also benefitted from the resentment among Hindu voters against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over his aggressive posturing on the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple following a Supreme Court verdict. “Vijayan failed to understand what Sabarimala means to believers,” said Congress leader K. Muraleedharan, who won from Vadakara.
Despite the rout, however, the left parties are far from finished in the state. “The Left had faced similar situation in many elections,” said political observer P.K. Suresh Kumar. “But the party returned to power in the next assembly elections.”