Sathyan Mokeri: The calm force aiming to transform Wayanad’s political dynamics

Wayanad: Sathyan Mokeri, a grassroots politician and Left candidate for the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypolls, has a track record of challenging the Congress party in this constituency, known as its stronghold. In the 2014 elections, he significantly reduced the Congress victory margin to just 20,000 votes.

Now, as he faces Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, the 71-year-old CPI leader believes he can win the support of the hill residents once again. In a recent interview, Mokeri, who has served three terms as the representative for the Nadapuram seat in the State Assembly, criticised the Congress campaign for ignoring local issues. He accused them of focusing instead on family ties and political heritage.

Mokeri emphasised that the people of Wayanad, who once had high hopes for former MP Rahul Gandhi, are now looking for change and will support the LDF. Despite his calm demeanour and lack of flashy speeches, he relies on his extensive experience working closely with farmers through his role in the farmers' organisation.

As the national joint secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha, Mokeri addressed various political issues in Wayanad, asserting that Rahul Gandhi did little to tackle the region's problems. "What did he do for Wayanad when he was the MP for five years? Did he raise any of Wayanad's issues in Parliament? He sought votes for the second time, acknowledging that he had made mistakes and would resolve them if re-elected. Then what happened? He ran away soon after, announcing another candidate for Wayanad," Mokeri said.

He pointed out that important matters, such as the night travel issue with Karnataka and the Nanjangud-Mysore railway line, have not been addressed. "The Karnataka government is against the people of Wayanad regarding the night travel ban issue. The Congress is ruling in Karnataka, and when Rahul was the MP here, he could have resolved the issue easily.

Mokeri also noted that during the recent landslides in July, the people of Mundakkai and Chooralmala received assistance from the State government, while Wayanad lacked representation in Parliament. "Rahul could have raised these issues directly with the Prime Minister, but the voice of Wayanad was absent in Parliament," Mokeri claimed.

Although the CPI is part of the INDIA coalition, which includes Congress, Mokeri is focused on his campaign against Priyanka Gandhi. "Why did we form the INDIA coalition? What was its political purpose? The Left parties were the ones that took the first steps to form a larger coalition capable of combating fascist forces. Do we have fascist forces in Kerala? These forces exist in Northern India, in states like UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.”

"These areas once belonged to the Congress, and leaders like Rahul and Priyanka should have contested against the fascist forces in these states," he said, adding that the decision of the Congress national leaders to contest from Wayanad is highly apolitical and an escape from the political aims of the INDIA coalition. He criticised the Congress strategy of winning seats regardless of their significance, calling it unprincipled.

With his experience as a three-time MLA, Mokeri is committed to advocating for the people of Wayanad. He remarked that many residents now feel they made a mistake by electing Rahul Gandhi twice and are ready for a change.

Mokeri acknowledged that the expectation of Wayanad electing a prime ministerial candidate initially boosted Rahul's campaign, influencing voter sentiment. "But now the people know that they have made a mistake, and they want to correct it. I am not saying this as a hype during the election campaign. In 2014, when I contested from Wayanad, the majority that the Congress received was just over 20,000 votes.

"If you consider the Assembly elections, except for Eranad, all the other Assembly constituencies under the Wayanad parliamentary constituency have voted for the LDF on different occasions. In the local body polls, there is also not much difference between the LDF and UDF," Mokeri said.

His own roadshow attracted many party workers and leaders, but it didn't match the excitement generated by Priyanka's recent event.

Keeping his campaign low-key, Mokeri has been visiting local workers, labourers, and everyday people to connect with their concerns and needs. "I am getting a good response from the field, as I have been campaigning since October 19. They are going to vote for me this time, ensuring a win for the LDF," Mokeri said.

PTI