Campaign gathers momentum, Kannur waits for the denouement

Kannur: People are busy moving around perspiring and exhausted under the scorching sun.  From one task to another, they move on cursing the summer heat. It seems the imminent election has not made any impact on them, as unfinished domestic commitments prevail over political interests. But, the land has a history of political exuberance and the lackadaisical response to the upcoming lok sabha elections in the first phase of the campaign would only be an initial hiccup as the atmosphere would get enlivened, feels political leaders.

Election campaign has only got underway in Kannur, with most of the mainland stays unaffected with the major fronts  focussing on house visits and visiting strongholds, preparing the rank and file ready for the final assault.  Familiar and popular among their respective cadres, K Sudhakaran of UDF and MV Jayarajan of LDF don't need any introduction to the electorate, with their long and eventful political careers speaking out  for them. War veterans, seasoned with many a political battle, both are determined to turn the tables around with organised and effective door to door campaigns and short visits to strongholds during the first phase.  

With early announcement of their candidate and disciplined campaign,  MV Jayarajan of CPM has edged past Sudhakaran in the first phase of the campaign. Being the biggest party unit in the state, Kannur CPM enjoys the backing of party rank and file which functions  like a well oiled engine.  Though the party boasts of Kannur as the red fort of CPM and takes pride in the long line of revolutionary leaders from the district like AKG and EK Nayanar, the history of the constituency doesn't support their bravado about their strength.

The constituency came into existence in 1977 and CPI's CK Chandrappan had won that election. But, during that election, CPI was an ally of the Congress front. He had defeated O Bharathan of CPM by 12,877 votes. Ever since that election, LDF was able to win the constituency only on three occasions out of 11 attempts. So far Congress or UDF had won 9 times from Kannur, with former KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran registering five consecutive wins from 1984 to 1998. In 1999, CPM's 'wonderkid' AP Abdullakkutty  upset the cart of Mullappally and repeated his feat in the next election in 2004 also. In 2009, K Sudhakaran had wrested back the constituency by defeating KK Ragesh of CPM. But, he lost to PK Sreemathi in the next election in 2014 . In the last election held in 2019, Sudhakaran  trounced sitting MP Sreemathi by a huge margin of 94,559 votes, the biggest margin recorded in the constituency.

A reluctant Sudhakaran started his campaign a bit late, as it was expected that a new candidate would come in place of him at Kannur. The caste considerations in various constituencies and other exigencies within the party had forced the strongman to enter the poll fray in Kannur, where no other name in Congress carries the weight he possesses. 'The initial lethargy could easily be overcome. Once the poll scene gets intense, Sudhakaran would launch himself into an all out combat, which we had seen in the past also'', said a congress leader.

BJP has fielded a former Congress man as their candidate. C Raghunath, who had fought against Pinarayi Vijayan at Dharmadam during the assembly election 2021 as the congress candidate, is the NDA candidate here as he had left congress and joined BJP a few months back. Former state president CK Padmanabhan, who had fought against Sudhakaran in 2019, had expressed his displeasure over the prominence given to former congress leaders who join BJP, saying that the party should be made 'congress mukth', giving innuendos about the prominence given to Abdullakkutty, Raghunath, Padmaja Venugopal and some others. Though Raghunath has started campaigning with confidence, BJP is not expected to make any surprises in Kannur.

'One of the main problems we face is the lack of funds to organise an all out campaign. Hope things would improve in the coming days', another congress leader said, on condition of anonymity. 

Much to their advantage, CPM doesn't lack any shortage of funds as they could organise their supporters in large groups wherever Jayarajan goes. The task before the CPM is to garner the extra votes outside their party votes. It is also said that, there are some bickerings inside the party over the candidature of Jayarajan. Inside sources  point out that senior party leaders have been assigned to assuage the hard feelings of some sections over his candidature.

Beset with discontentment, UDF too finds the going a bit difficult, as many party workers abstain from getting involved in campaign activities.  'These are all initial hiccups. Sudhakaran knows how to pep up his followers and make them fight for his victory. Things have already started getting better,now.  You could easily see that, the entire scenario would change as the election scene gets charged up', the congress leader said.

Congress makes most out of the ED investigation against Veena Vijayan, Karuvannur bank scam, delayed distribution of welfare pensions, civil supplies fiasco and the insecure lives of people who face wild animals attack, to campaign hard against the government.  

MV Jayarajan keeps on reiterating the party stand over CAA in his campaign speeches, which seems to be the poll plank of LDF in this election. How far this would carry them ahead in the campaign should be watched and seen as UDF too fights the CAA with the support of Muslim League, which would give them a definite edge over CPM in combating this issue.

As the candidates enter into the second round of campaigning, things would definitely change and the election narrative also would change. With the heat taking a heavy toll on the candidates and party workers, things would get more difficult for everyone in the coming days. With the new generation voters showing indifference towards the democratic process, the fronts feel insecure as they feel the calculations would go awry if the new votes are not cast in their favour.