Despite being the biggest political party in the State with a large number of high-profile leaders, the Kerala CPI(M) seems to be facing a crisis of confidence when it comes to selecting the right candidates for particular constituencies for the May 16 Assembly election even as the Congress has finalised its list of probable candidates in which names of all its sitting MlAs figured.
It is a bit surprising to note that the CPI(M) is facing such a situation in spite of its strong hopes about the possibility of winning the election by cashing in on the strong anti-incumbency sentiment that has enveloped the scam-beleaguered Congress-led UDF Government of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
Even the CPI(M) insiders are admitting that a crisis of confidence has gripped the leadership when it comes to selecting candidates for crucial constituencies. This uncertainty has led to organisational damages due to wrong selection of candidates in certain constituencies and it is already threatening to reflect on the poll performance of lDF in those seats, they admit.
Observers point out that this uncertainty is not due to any dearth of efficient party leaders who can make good candidates but it is the crucial nature of the upcoming election and the change in the pattern of the battle due to the presence of the BJP-led NDA as a strong third force which are causing the “sense of doubt or confusion” in the minds of the leaders over candidate selection.
According to poll-watchers and political observers, this is the first time in its entire history that Kerala is going to witness a tough State-wide triangular contest, a situation which neither the left nor the Congress-led front is familiar with. In this context, it is normal for them to be extra-cautious while preparing for the polls, they say.
“The Congress, I think, is still reluctant to wake up to this reality but the Marxists are already serious. That is why they are committing this mistake of roping in movie stars and media personalities as candidates in certain seats. But what the leadership refuses to see is the damage that tendency is causing in the grassroots level,” said the editor of a pro-Congress newspaper.
According to sources, the State secretariat of the CPI(M) on Saturday approved the proposals to field filmstar Mukesh in Kollam and TV personalities MV Nikseh Kumar and Veena George in Azheecode and Aranmula respectively despite the stiff protests that had come up in these constituencies from the very moment these names were proposed.
“In this election, the party has to be extremely careful about the factors that may come into play — like religious and community situation of particular constituencies and personality and acceptability of the candidate. When there is no clarity, the easiest way is to go after glamour. I think that is what is happening currently,” said a former CPI(M) theorist.
“luckily for the CPI(M), its enemies are also pursuing a similar policy. The Congress wants to field movie stars too and some proposals have already come up but the move may not succeed due to the long queue of partymen demanding tickets. The BJP seems to be running after stars from all fields,” he added.
In the meantime, the top State Congress leaders will on Monday present the party’s final list of probable candidates for 82 Assembly seats to the high command in Delhi. Though the list contained the names of all the sitting MlAs of the party, State Congress president VM Sudheeran said that all sitting members need not get tickets to contest the polls.
It was up to the Congress high command to decide whether all sitting MlAs should contest or not, Sudheeran said, adding that his name was not in the list. It is interesting to note that the Congress has finalized its list even before it has come to an understanding with the constituents in the UDF over allocation of seats.