The sole woman candidate of the Indian National Congress in Kerala and incumbent MP from Alathur Lok Sabha constituency, Ramya Haridas, speaks to the Mathrubhumi English on her second attempt from the seat.

The voters have been aligned to the LDF in Alathur more times than not. The Assembly election results too present a similar picture. So, in your opinion what factor will favour you in this election?

In the last elections, the voters just saw me, heard me and came to know me through the media alone. However, this time they have seen me working amid them and along with them in the past five years as their representative to the Parliament. Now, I am facing the election as one among them or as their own family member.

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Map of Alathur LS Constituency | Photo: wikipedia.org
I as an MP could intervene in several issues directly affecting the people here. However, both the State and the Centre's apathetic stance have put the farmers in my constituency in great misery.

We had demanded an agricultural scheme on the lines of Kuttanad Package for the constituency which is reeling under agrarian crisis besides water scarcity, adversely affecting the paddy  and vegetable cultivations.

In these burning issues, both the Centre and the State governments turned a blind eye. However, several big and small schemes could be implemented using the MP fund, except during the Covid period, in all the 56 panchayats, 3 municipalities and 7 assembly constituencies coming under the Alathur constituency. Apart from that, an amount of Rs 3 crore, which former MP P K Biju failed to make use of, was also utilised during my tenure.

To name a project in particular, let's take the overall development of the Thrissur Medical College which comes under Wadakkanchery in Alathur constituency. Many facilities, especially during the hard times of Covid, were enhanced in the MCH using the MP fund and NHM fund. This gains significance considering the fact that the State government could not make available any amenities at the Palakkad Medical College for common people. Even people from Palakkad and Malappuram rely on Thrissur Medical College for specialised treatment.

Several other projects in connection with schools, anganwadis, drinking water supply and so on could be carried out in the constituency. Focus was always given to the issues of the lower strata of society. One or more PMGSY roads could be constructed in all assembly constituencies coming under the Alathur seat.  With the support of both the Palakkad and Thrissur District Collectors, the MGNREGA Scheme could also be implemented effectively in the constituency. Even the number of asset- creating projects could be increased.

How do you react to the criticism that instead of speaking politics, you only sing to win the hearts of voters?

This is nothing new. The same was said in the 2019 elections as well. Isn't raising issues like non-payment of scholarships to students pursuing courses, including MBBS, and various pensions to the elderly, politics? I have always spoken for the safety of women and children? Is that not politics?

I might sing along while raising such serious issues. That's my way of expression. I cannot say 'Get Out' ever to anyone. Every individual will have their own style of communication. I think we should accept that.

This time the Congress has fielded a sole woman candidate and that's you. Why does the Congress not walk the talk on women representation?

The Congress had appointed the first woman prime minister of our country when none other even thought about it. It was the Congress party which was instrumental in making Indira Gandhi the first woman Prime Minister of the country and then first woman Finance Minister. How many national parties in our country had women as its chairpersons, presidents or secretaries? So, it cannot be said that the Congress does not support women representation. Rajeev Gandhi's dream of 50 percent reservation for women in the Panchayati Raj system was fulfilled by the Indian National Congress that was formed in the year 1885.

Apart from that, it is the Congress party that introduced an individual, Ramya Haridas, and gave several opportunities to her to serve the people. However, I am not saying that the political parties are giving enough representation to women. More representation is definitely needed. Similarly, the youth representation should also be increased.

Your main rival candidate CPM Minister K Radhakrishnan is from Alathur constituency itself. So how different will be the competition  this year from last term?

I am not at all bothered about the opponents. However, when the opposing candidates are part of the government, then they are answerable to the issues like delay in the payment of various pensions and minimum support price to the farmers. They cannot shirk off their responsibilities.

The ideology we are putting forward is something safeguarding the secularism of the country. As a national party, we cannot think like the Communist party, which exists only in the State defending the corruption charges against its leaders and opposing us. We still have over 50 percent vote share in various States. Let people decide who they want to represent them.  At a time when the country is facing divisive forces acting in the name of religion, we have to think about the future. We should not let them split up our country. It is the Congress party that is going ahead with no compromise on such communal forces.

So, the voters of Alathur will definitely stand by the UDF. Not just Alathur, the UDF will win all 20 seats in the State, thereby enabling the INDIA bloc to preserve the secular nature of our country.