BJP, which faced reverses in some of the recent by-elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, hopes that it may score a win in by-election to Kerala’s Chengannur assembly segment slated for May 28. If it happens, it could be “a game changer” for party’s profile in the Southernmost State.
While seeking hard to regain foothold in the poll-bound Karnataka where they held power in 2008 but lost subsequently to the Congress in 2013, BJP wants to expand deeper in South in Kerala where it sees its party gaining strength steadily.
BJP feels that it may win by-election to Chengannur caused by the death of sitting CPM MlA KK Ramachandran Nair in January, as in 2016 assembly polls it collected around 42,682 votes quite close to the Congress party’s 44,987 votes. The CPI (M)’s Nair had won the seat with 52,880 votes.
According to BJP leaders , though Chengannur has traditionally been a safe seat for the Congress, this time round, BJP candidate P P Sreedharan Pillai, a former State President, who contested from the seat in 2016, would won support from across all communities including those from non-catholic Christians belonging to Marthomite church. While CPM candidate from Chengannur is a Christian, BJP and Congress nominees are from Hindu community.
“In Chengannur Sreedharan Pillai has an upper hand over other candidates because of his acceptance among almost all sections and the increasing appeal of Narendra Modi and the BJP. People of Kerala are looking for alternatives to CPM and Congress”. says National Secretary BJP Youth wing Anoop Antony Joseph.
Joseph estimates that of around 60000 Christian votes in the constituency over 10000 could straightaway vote for Pillai. Congress candidate, this time round,” is a newcomer and weak” , he claims.
The triangular contest for may 28 contest is set among Pillai, a former BJP State President , Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) member D Vijayakumar and CPM district secretary Saji Cherian.
In 2016 Assembly polls, Congress candidate P.C. Vishnunath, seeking a hat-trick of wins from the seat, was defeated and BJP attributed this to “steep rise” in the popularity of the BJP candidate Pillai, who secured 42,682 votes.
The last assembly poll saw BJP making definite inroads into Kerala even as it could win only one seat in 140 strong assembly.
BJP not only won its first seat in that State when former Union Minister and 86-year-old O Rajgopal won Nemom constituency in Thiruvananthapuram district by over 8,000 votes defeating CPI-M legislator V Sivankutty but also witnessed its vote collection rising to 10.6 per cent in the state from 6.03 percent in 2011.
Besides, in 2016 BJP candidates stood second in seven seats , at almost a striking distance from the target. BJP is smelling rapid progress in Kerala and hopes to replicate its victory model as Tripura.
In Tripura, where BJP formed its first Government in March, this year, ousting CPM rule of 22 years , the party had less than two per cent vote in 2013 which has now risen to a huge 43 per cent , something party’s hard loyalist could not have believed five years ago.