Fierce battle on cards in Kottayam
Kottayam, the cradle of the Kerala Congress Party, is all set to witness a fiery fight between two of its factions once again after a long interval since 1977, when two of the Kerala Congress groups locked horns for the then general elections for the first time from the party bastion. Definitely, the upcoming Parliament election will not be a cakewalk for LDF candidate and sitting MP Thomas Chazhikadan of the Kerala Congress (M) as the opponent is UDF’s two-time MP Francis George of the Kerala Congress (J), although not from the constituency. The contest will be spiced up by the entry of BDJS, an NDA ally, candidate who is likely to be Thushar Vellappally.
In 1977, the Kerala Congress (B) as a Left ally fielded then sitting MP Varkey Thomas as its candidate against parent party’s Skariah Thomas in Kottayam after Balakrishna Pillai, the co-founder of the party, left it to form his own party in the same year. However, Skariah Thomas emerged the winner by a margin of 68696 votes. Similar was the fate for the Kerala Congress (B) in Muvattupuzha where its candidate K M Joseph Kuruppamadham lost the battle to parent party’s George J Mathew by a margin of 44820 votes.
Coming back to Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency, comprising Piravom, Pala, Kaduthuruthy, Vaikom, Ettumanoor, Kottayam and Puthupally assembly segments, the voters have shown allegiance to the UDF more often than not. However, prospects of the LDF cannot be ruled out given the fact that the sitting MP is more popular as well as familiar among the electors, comprising approximately 56.3 percent Hindus, 38.7 percent Christians and 5 percent Muslims as per the voter list analysis, besides around 7.7 percent SC and 0.09 percent ST as per the 2011 Census.
Prospects of Thomas Chazhikadan
Sharing the statistics released by the Programme Implementation and Statistics wing of the Union government, incumbent MP Thomas Chazhikadan claimed to be the first MP from Kerala to expend the entire funds allotted by the Centre till May 31, 2023. His other commendable jobs in the constituency are the major facelift of the Kottayam Railway Station with new parking lot, alternative entry and lengthened platforms, and reopening of the Passport Seva Kendra in the district
Chazhikadan had won the 2019 general elections on a UDF ticket, defeating LDF’s V N Vasavan by a margin of victory of 11.66 percent from Kottayam constituency, which has around 69.4 percent rural voters and around 30.6 percent urban voters as per the 2011 census. However, in 2020, he switched to the LDF alliance with his party supremo Jose K Mani joining hands with the Left Front. Now, it is closely watched if the incumbent MP can repeat the victory on the LDF ticket as well.
On his winnability from the constituency, the MP told Mathrubhumi English on the sidelines of the inauguration of his election office at Shasthri Road in Kottayam, “As an MP for the past five years, I could lead the activities aiming at the comprehensive development of the constituency and the betterment of people. Once more I am contesting to the Parliament from here and I am receiving support from every corner. With that support, I will continue my efforts in the Parliament as the people’s servant and co-worker.”
Francis George’s take
On his prospects in the Kottayam seat where the KC(J) faction has no strong footing, Francis George, son of Kerala Congress founder chairman K M George, told Mathrubhumi English that he always had an emotional connection with Kottayam as it is where the Kerala Congress was born on October 9 in 1964. Refuting that KC(J) has no influence on Kottayam, he maintained that the party's debacle in all except Kaduthuruthi seat from Kottayam in the last Assembly elections was just a continuation of the LDF wave. Chunks of KC (J) strongholds Idukki and Kochi were part of Kottayam once, he said, adding that Kottayam was never out of their sight.
“We are the real Kerala Congress and we always had representatives across the district. So it will be untrue to say that the KC(J) has no foothold in Kottayam,” he added.
On whether he is getting the unstintedsupport from Congress,since his name was announced for Kottayam, a seat the Congress is always keen to take back to its fold, Francis George, who had represented Idukki in Parliament twice, claimed that the entire UDF, especially the Congress, has wholeheartedly accepted his candidature.
"Congress leaders, including KPCC president and Leader of Opposition, have even come forward to say that Francis George is not just KC(J) candidate, but he is the Indian National Congress's candidate as well," he said, adding that he is enjoying all-out support from the Congress's local leadership also. So he is not all worried about that, he further said.