KOCHI: The BJP’s performance and the sharp increase in its vote share, from 4942 votes to 29843 votes, is the highlight in Tripunithura. The huge drain in UDF votes, more than 11,600 votes, indicates that NDA has eaten into a substantial vote share of K. Babu. Prof. Viswambharan could win over a considerable per cent of non-BJP votes with his personal appeal.
The BJP could put up its best in the municipality by wresting the Opposition role with 13 seats in the last local body election. With the alleged involvement of K Babu in bar gate Tripunithura had become one of the most keenly watched constituencies.
The much discussed CPM dissidence in Udayamperoor and the tag of outsider failed to make any negative impact on Swaraj. It was in 1987 that a CPM candidate won an election from Tripunithura for the last time. V Viswanatha Menon former Finance Minister won the seat in that year. After that, K. Babu has been representing the constituency for long 25 years.
