Alappuzha: Alappuzha is a laboratory for political experiments and has made and marred the careers of titans. The agrarian district has witnessed several uprisings and incidents leaving a lasting imprint on people’s movements and changing the history of the state.
It may be called the nursery of communism, the seeds of which were sown by the redoubtable P. Krishna Pillai, but communist leaders too have tasted defeats, including K.R. Gouri, T.V. Thomas and V.S. Achuthanandan. The land of Punnapra-Vayalar revolt still remains a communist bastion, though its monopoly has been broken often.
In the last 12 months since Mr Achuthanandan created history by walking out of the 21st party congress on February 21 last year, the political scene has undergone vast changes, including the birth of BDJS, the emergence of a stronger BJP, and the debacle of UDF in the local body elections.
Alappuzha favours the meritorious, be it the outsider or insider, rich or poor, upper caste or lower caste. The majority of the district’s population are farmers, traders and labourers. But it has produced political heavyweights like K.R. Gouriamma and T.V. Thomas, A.K. Antony, Vayalar Ravi and V.S. Achuthanandan.
But the voters of the district have also turned their backs on tall leaders like Mr Achuthanandan in 1991, T.V. Thomas in 1965 and Gouriamma in 1975.
Ever since the district was born, Kerala Congress too had got a space here and even the now-defunct National Democratic Party (NDP) had won a seat. The district has also witnessed the rise and fall of Janathipatya Samrakshana Samithy (JSS) floated by Gouriamma.
Now, the new leader on the state’s political horizon, SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan is set to challenge the established parties with his outfit, Bhartheeya Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS).
In the last Assembly elections, the LDF won seven seats out of nine-- Kayamkulam, Mavelikara, Ambalappuzha, Alappuzha, Cherthala, Aroor and Kuttanad—while the UDF had to be satisfied with Haripad and Chengannur.
Encouraged by the victory in the last local body elections, the LDF is striving hard to retain its upper hand in all the sitting seats. The UDF district unit too is keen to introduce better candidates who can put up a tough challenge to the LDF.
The BJP factor is worrying both the fronts. It has won power in Thiruvanvandoor panchayat for the first time in the history of the district and made inroads in all six municipalities as well. With BDJS becoming its ally, the coming elections will be crucial for all.
The parties are in a hurry to announce its candidates, and the name of film actor Siddique in the Congress list from Aroor has created resentment among the party workers.
The CPM district unit is keen on fielding its prominent leaders like Dr T.M. Thomas Isaac and G. Sudhakaran and wants to take back Kuttanad from NCP and Cherthala from CPI. The CPI, which won only one seat out of the two it contested in the last Assembly election, is busy finding out better candidates.
All are keenly watching whether Kerala Congress(M) dissident leader Dr K.C. Joseph, who has a record of winning both as LDF and UDF candidate from Kuttanad, will stake his claim for the seat again.
However, in term of development Alappuzha remains neglected. The voters are sceptical of the tall promises being made by rival fronts going by their past experiences.
