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According to CPI(M) insiders, the BJP is giving them tough times, especially in the southern districts of Kerala
Artists paint the LDF symbol on a wall in Thiruvananthapuram; (right) an evening shakha of the RSS in Kannur district. (Image: PTI/News18)
With the BJP winning three seats in the Kerala Assembly, the main opposition CPI(M) likes to treat number three, considered the smallest number needed to create a pattern with progression, as a hazard signal. Incidentally, CPI(M) devoted three pages to this three-seat victory of the third force out of its 47-page report scrutinising the reasons for its rout in the recent elections, which downsized the party-led alliance LDF, to 35 from 99 in the 140-member Assembly. While raising concerns about the erosion of votes from its traditional bastions, the party issued a word of caution not to let them (the BJP) grow as the third political force in the state. “The most serious issue in this election is that the BJP gained three seats,” pointed out the report.
Apart from the three seats, the BJP, braving the UDF wave, had made an impressive show in around 50 seats.
According to CPI(M) insiders, the BJP is giving them tough times, especially in the southern districts, with a silent migration ensuing from red to saffron in recent months. This mainly rests on the fact that CPI(M)’s strength was that it was a Hindu party; it almost had a captive base among the Ezhavas, who form the largest grouping, especially those in the south, where the SNDP Yogam, representing the community, has a voice. Though the BJP was an upper-caste party till the advent of the Modi era, it slowly eroded in the state with his OBC image. Adding to this, CPI(M)’s misadventure with the Sabarimala row has backfired badly, and the biggest impact has been on the Ezhava community. Curiously, two of the three legislators of the BJP are from the community, and the parliamentary party leader, BB Gopakumar, is the president of the Chathannoor Union of the SNDP Yogam.
“The community found itself an orphan after the demise of VS Achuthanandan (former CM and CPI(M) leader). He was their pride, reflecting all the ethos of a secular, communist leader with compassion. Now none from the community from the south are in the leadership,” says a veteran CPI(M) leader who wants to remain anonymous.
Moreover, almost three decades under the leadership of Pinarayi Vijayan in the party and the government means there is no clear successor. Instead, there is a batch of middle-aged leaders of equal stature who don’t command that kind of mass appeal that VS Achuthanandan, Pinarayi Vijayan, or EK Nayanar enjoyed.
“The party grew in numbers from 2010, like a democratic party. Many entered the party effortlessly as cadres. The reasons could be some special issues, money, community, or political lineage. However, none checked their ideological commitment. The new entrants started to crave parliamentary positions, which the leadership succumbed to. So the cadres began to lose quality as the quantity increased,” said a middle-level leader with two decades in CPI(M) as a cadre.
He added that even as the party started behaving like a democratic party, it failed to address intra-party issues democratically. “Those who raised criticisms in the party forums were crushed with an iron fist. So most chose to keep quiet, which resulted in many political positions of the party not resonating with the ordinary public. The attitude of the leaders transformed, and some behaved as if they were from a different planet. Sometimes we had to bow as if before a deity in a temple to meet a district secretary in his office,” he said.
The party moved away from the marginalised, especially Dalits, while the BJP and the Sangh Parivar made constant efforts to reach them. “The OBC sections realised there is no door for them except that of the BJP to knock, as the radical elements are gaining much influence in society. There is a big movement from backward communities, especially Ezhavas and the Dalits, to the BJP. Christian votes also turned in favour where the candidates were good. This is evident in districts like Alappuzha, Kollam, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Thiruvananthapuram (the south districts),” BJP State Vice President Shone George told News18.com.
He admits that, due to the strong anti-Pinarayi wave, the party was not seen as an alternative to the CPI(M) in the last elections. “However, there are 31 seats that polled more than 30,000 votes. We are hopeful of winning the state, with the flow of communities to the BJP along with this,” he added.
About the Author
Chandrakanth Viswanath is a bilingual multimedia journalist with working experience from various locations in India and the Middle East. Now based in Thiruvananthapuram as an editor after stints in Ne…Read More
Thiruvananthapuram, India, India
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