THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With CPM and BJP fielding formidable candidates for Vattiyoorkavu assembly constituency, sitting MLA K Muraleedharan of Congress is faced with a tough electoral battle in the coming polls.
In 2011 Assembly polls, Muraleedharan defeated LDF supported Independent candidate Cherian Philip by a comfortable margin of 16,167. BJP had campaigned aggressively, but its candidate V V Rajesh could secure only 13,494 votes.
However, this time around both CPM and BJP are claiming to give a stunning performance. The CPM cadre seem to be in a buoyant mood as they have got a candidate who will contest on the party symbol. Besides, as Rajya Sabha MP T N Seema has spent a good amount of money from the MPLAD funds for various development activities, welfare activities and patient welfare projects in medical college Thiruvananthapuram and other hospitals.
Political observers say while candidate's profile is definitely an added advantage for LDF, that alone is not enough to take on a formidable candidate like K Muraleedharan. Moreover, the LDF vote share had also come down from 40,364 in 2011 to 27,504 in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Even in the local bodies’ poll held in November 2015, LDF could not gain much. The CPM managed to win a dozen wards while BJP came a close second with 10.
The BJP on the other hand is confident of making it a close triangular fight on the strength of its stupendous performance in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation polls. Vattiyoorkavus is one of the constituencies on which the BJP is pinning its hopes. This is the reason why it chose party chief Kummanam Rajashekharan who is expected to galvanise the cadre.
BJP leaders claim that there will be a wave in favour of party candidates constituencies’ spread across including Nemom, Vattiyoorkavu and Thiruvananthapuram.
The Congress, however, is not ready to buy the theory that results of Lok Sabha poll and local bodies’ poll would have an impact on Vattiyoorkavu. Congress leaders say the voting pattern will completely change in Assembly polls.
Moreover, the work done by sitting MLA in the constituency will be a determining factor. With late Karunakaran’s son free not facing allegations of corruption like his other party colleagues including ministers, there isn't enough ammunition for the rivals to attack him with.
Notwithstanding the claims and counter claims of rival parties, one thing is for sure that Vattiyoorkavu constituency is going to witness a high voltage electoral battle like never before.
