THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Both the LDF and UDF are worried about the strides the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena has been making in Idukki. It wields considerable influence on the numerically significant Ezhava community in Udumbanchola and Thodupuzha.
Kuttanad and Kovalam are other constituencies that give the domineering fronts sleepless nights. BDJS general secretary and SNDP Mavelikara union president Subhash Vasu is its candidate in Kuttanad while it hopes to spring a surprise through T.N. Suresh in Kovalam.
Senapathy Venu (Congress), M. M. Mani (CPM) and Saji Parampath (BDJS), all of them Ezhavas, are locked in a triangular fight in Udumbanchola. BDJS wants to ensure the defeat Mr Mani here.
KPCC secretary Ibrahimkutty Kallar said the LDF would lose its Ezhava vote base this time and it would not affect the Congress as it draws its support mainly from Christians in the district.
But a left leader rubbished this stating that during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, independent candidate Joyce George romped home with the support of the High Range Protection Council, which would help Mr Mani this time.
P. J. Joseph (KC (M)), Roy Varikatt (CPM) and S. Praveen (BDJS) are prominent contestants in Thodupuzha. Mr Praveen, the SNDP Thodupuzha union president, may not be able to keep the upper caste BJP votes. If BJP had identified 22 "A+ constituencies," BDJS is concentrating on eight of the 37 it contests, mobilising all its resources.
But it is lacking roots in Kollam
The BJP is not hopeful of reaping rich dividends from its association with the BDJS, the political outfit of the SNDP, as the later lacks grassroots-level organisation. However, the SNDP supporters are enthusiastic as their representatives are in the fray under the NDA banner.
“The BJP wanted to have good results with its association with the BDJS. However, the organisational structure of the BDJS is not well-established,” said BJP district president G. Gopinath. He added that the CPM was alleging a nexus between the BJP and the Congress in an attempt to divert the attention from its wrong association with the Congress in West Bengal.
The BJP has fielded six candidates in the district contesting on the lotus symbol, Mr. Gopinath said. The BJP’s campaign in the district will get a boost with the visit of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to Chathannoor and Kunnathoor on May 6.
He will participate in the meetings organised for NDA candidate B.B. Gopakumar in Chathannoor and Thazhava Sahadevan in Kunnathoor. On May 5, Union Minister Ananth Kumar will address meetings in Eravipuram and Chavara constituencies for the NDA candidates.
