He does not have a political outfit with presence anywhere outside his hometown of Poonjar in Kottayam district. But when Plathottam Chackochan George (70), PC to his friends, followers and even rivals, speaks, they all liaten with rapt attention. He does not care a damn about the stature of any politicians whether it is Pinarayi Vijayan or Oommen Chandi or even late K M Mani, his one-time mentor. Even Archbishops and Cardinals hold him in high esteem because George speaks the truth.
He is an enigma to conventional politicians because he cannot stand to non-sense. George gas been elected seven times to the legislative assembly and the 2021 outing is his eighth attempt. He won both the last elections without the support of any major political outfits and is sure to make it to the Legislative Assembly this time too.
According to George, who treads a lone furrow in Kerala politics for the last decade, the State is in for a hung assembly. “Do not give any attention to these opinion polls or exit polls. They do not have any scientific validity. Chances are that the Congress-led UDF is likely to emerge as the single largest front. But I doubt the possibilities of them touching the magic figure of 71. The BJP is likely to win three to five seats and it is going to be the turning point in the State’s politics,” George told The Pioneer. Interestingly, he has been of the view that the LDF would not win this election. “My opinion that the LDF will not win the election stays. We will see politically interesting period in months to come,” said George.
All we have to do is to wait for a few more hours to see whether George has the last laugh. Sivam Mukkan, who claims to possess tantric powers says Pinarayi Vijayan would cease to be the chief minister once the voters are counted. “He can forget the chief minister’s name after May 2,” said Sivan. But he declined to give the reasons or who would be the next chief minister. Pandhappilli Gopala Menon, Sanskrit scholar and a widely respected astrologer has an interesting observation to make.
“Jupiter is shifting to Kumbham Raasi, (Acquarius). This is an indication of change in ruler. The reigning king has to go out and a new person has to come in. This is what the science of astrology says,” said Menon, thantri (chief priest) to many temples in Tamil Nadu and Puthussery.
Now, over to Election Commission of India and vote counting officials