News Analysis India

Tag: LDF

  • With Development Work And ‘Ram Jyoti’ Appeal, PM Modi Tries To Strike A Chord With ‘Unfavourable’ Kerala Voters |

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed a gathering in Kerala’s Kochi where he lauded the people of the state for celebrating ‘Ramayan Masam’ and urged people to light ‘Ram Jyoti’ on January 22. “Shri Rama Jyoti should be lit in all houses and temples during the Dhanya Muhurta of Prana Pratishtha in Ayodhya. This message should be conveyed to all,” urged PM Modi to the people. He also asked party workers to focus on their booth saying that every booth is important. PM Modi urged the party workers to conduct contact activities with people and made them aware of the BJP government’s scheme. He also asked all Shaktikendra workers to use the Namo application to get accurate awareness of central schemes. 

    Kerala, once a Congress stronghold, has shifted towards the Left for the last 10 years. The BJP is focussing on ‘development, welfare, and security’ issues to woo the voters. The BJP is already making ground among voters with PM Modi’s roadshows and events. PM Modi recently led a roadshow and a women’s rally in Thrissur on January 3. He also addressed the Nari Shakthi (Women’s Power) conference which was attended by thousands of women.

    Focus On Key Lok Sabha Seats

    The Kerala BJP is focussing on key Lok Sabah seats where its vote share has increased over time. Over the past three Lok Sabha elections of Thiruvananthapuram, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demonstrated its growing strength as a formidable contender. In the 2009 election, the BJP’s candidate PK Krishna Das secured a notable vote share of 11.40 per cent. Subsequently, in 2014, O Rajagopal significantly increased the party’s influence, garnering 32.32 per cent of the votes. Although there was a slight dip in electoral support in 2019, with Kummanam Rajasekharan achieving a vote share of 31.30 per cent, the BJP continued to establish itself as a robust opponent in the region.

    The Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha seat, which saw agitations related to the Sabarimala temple, is again the focus of the BJP. The party’s vote share in this seat had increased from 7.06 per cent in 2009 to 15.95 per cent in 2014 and to 28.97 per cent in 2019. The BJP is also focussing on the Thrissur and Attingal seats.

    BJP Customising Its Kerala Strategy

    The BJP is customising itself in the state which has a significant number of Christian voters. Shifting away from the traditional strategy of catering primarily to the Hindu community, the BJP is now focusing on the electoral potential within the Christian population in Kerala. The state presents a complex religious demographic scenario, posing a unique challenge for the BJP in its electoral endeavours. Among the 33.4 million inhabitants in Kerala, Christians constitute approximately 18 per cent of the population, while Muslims make up 26 per cent.

    Since the Muslim community in the state largely votes for either Congress or the Left, the BJP is looking to woo Christian voters who are not adverse to the party. Modi’s decision to visit Sacred Heart’s College went beyond merely trying to shape the perspectives of young individuals. It also aimed to portray the BJP as an inclusive party that embraces Christians and genuinely seeks the welfare of the community.

    The BJP’s endeavours to establish a foothold in Kerala politics are showing tangible outcomes, as reflected in the increasing votes and endorsement from influential church figures. Another noteworthy development is the resignation of Johnny Nellore, the vice-chairman of the Kerala Congress, who has declared the formation of a new political party with backing from the Church, purportedly supported by the BJP. Also, by visiting the popular temples, PM Modi has maintained his devotion towards the religion. This will also help woo the Hindu voters. Thus, if the BJP manages to carve out a space for itself among the Hindu and Christian voters, its path will become easier. 

    Development Plank

    PM Modi is presenting the BJP as a party known for carrying out development work. The introduction of the Vande Bharat Express and India’s first Water Metro Service in Kochi is part of a strategic plan. Even today, when the Prime Minister visited Kerala, he inaugurated projects worth over Rs 4000 crore in Kerala’s Kochi. The three major infrastructure projects inaugurated by the Prime Minister included the New Dry Dock (NDD) at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL); the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) of CSL; and the LPG Import Terminal of Indian Oil Corporation Limited at Puthuvypeen, Kochi.

    Highlighting the new infrastructure initiatives inaugurated today, the Prime Minister said the Central Government is working to increase the capacity of coastal cities like Kochi. He further asserted that Kochi is set to be the next ship-building hub of the nation. This will send a signal to the youth of the state that they will get better opportunities within the state instead of migrating to other places.

  • Kerala Assembly ruckus: Won’t condone unruly behaviour of MLAs, says SC

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI/T’PURAM: The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the motive of the state in seeking the withdrawal of criminal cases registered against six leaders of the ruling LDF, including two sitting and four former MLAs, in connection with the assembly ruckus in 2015, stating such action and damage to public property should be met with legal action.

    “Prima facie we have to take a strict view of this kind of behaviour. This is not acceptable. Look at the behaviour of an MLA who throws mic on the floor of the house. He must face trial,” said a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah. 

    “They are MLAs and they represent the people,” the bench said while considering the petition moved by the state and the accused leaders challenging a Kerala High Court order refusing to discharge them.The case relates to the destruction of furniture and electronic equipment in the Speaker’s chamber of the assembly by E P Jayarajan, V Sivankutty, K T Jaleel, K Ajith, C K Sadasivan and K Kunjammed during the budget presentation by the late K M Mani who had been facing corruption allegation in connection with bar bribery scandal.While considering the plea, Justice Shah asked what was the motive for the protest. Senior counsel and former solicitor general Ranjit Kumar replied the opposition MLAs were staging a protest against the “corrupt finance minister”.

    ‘It’s vital to maintain sense of decorum’

    The SC bench maintained that such behaviour cannot be condoned and the accused should face trial under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. “Irrespective of the reputation of the finance minister, the passage of the bill is of utmost importance,” observed Justice Chandrachud, adding that “these (assembly proceedings) are sentinels of democracy and that it is essential to maintain a sense of decorum.” 

    “Now these incidents are happening (frequently). It is happening in the parliament too,” Justice Shah added. The court adjourned the matter for July 15.The case registered under the Prevention of Damage to Public Properties Act said the state suffered a loss of `2.20 lakh due to MLAs actions. Among the accused, V Sivankutty is the general education minister in the current cabinet and KT Jaleel is a sitting MLA. 

    The state approached the SC with a special leave petition as the High Court refused to allow its appeal challenging the Thiruvananthapuram CJM court’s decision not to allow the withdrawal of prosecution in these cases under Section 321 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.  If the SC dismisses the petition, the six politicians, including Minister V Sivankutty will have to face trial in the case at CJM court.

  • Exit polls 2021: West Bengal too close to call, DMK has cruising victory, LDF to enjoy second turn

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Chances of Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress retaining power in West Bengal appeared too close to call, while Assam is likely to give the BJP another shot at power, if exit poll projections on Thursday are anything to go by.

    In Tamil Nadu, exit polls predicted a crushing victory for the MK Stalin-led DMK, while the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF appeared comfortably ahead in the race to retain power in Kerala. As for Puducherry, exit polls put it in the BJP’s pocket.

    ABP News CVoter predicted the Trinamool getting between 152-164 seats, while BJP could get between 109- 121 in West Bengal. The Left alliance, including the Congress, is expected to get between 14-25. On the contrary, the Republic- CNX polls gave the BJP a slight edge by projecting 138-148 seats for the party in the 294-seat Assembly and 128-138 to the Trinamool.

    The eight-phase polls in West Bengal ended on Thursday evening. As for Assam, the BJP-led NDA is likely to beat antiincumbency to retain power. The India Today-Axis My India exit poll gave 75-85 of Assam’s 126 seats to the NDA.

    The Congress’s grand alliance is likely to win 40-50 seats, it predicted. In Tamil Nadu, the exit polls predict a landslide for the Opposition DMK alliance, giving it a staggering 165 of the 234 seats that went to polls.

    The AIADMK, which had the BJP as its ally, could end up end up with 66 seats. As for Kerala, the LDF is all set to retain power with the poll of polls predicting 84 to LDF, 54 to UDF and 2 to the BJP. If the India Today- Axis exit poll is to be believed, the LDF is expected to win around 104-120 seats, UDF 20-36, BJP 0-2 and others 0-2.

  • Kerala polls: Chacko joins NCP, pitches for Pawar’s leadership to raise Opposition unity

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Former Kerala Congress leader PC Chacko joined the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday.  

    “I am formally joining NCP today,” he said. The 74-year-old is a former Member of Parliament from Kerala’s Thrissur constituency.

    He headed the Joint Parliamentary Committee on 2G Spectrum during the UPA government (2009-2014).

    On March 10, he announced his decision to quit Congress over the alleged undemocratic way of selecting candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls in Kerala which is scheduled for April 6.

    Earlier on Tuesday, he said that he would be meeting Sharad Pawar and a few other leaders.

    “Whatever crisis the party is facing, it needs to be discussed. I’m also meeting Sitaram Yechury and Ghulam Nabi Azad to discuss future course of action. I need to extend my support to the LDF (Left Democratic Front of Kerala). I’ll decide (on joining) after meeting Pawar sahib,” he said while talking to media on Tuesday.

    The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala is looking to replace the Communist-led Left Democratic Front government of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

    The state, which has never given a second consecutive term to the incumbent chief minister or alliance till now, could throw up a surprise this time.

    Chacko was welcomed into the NCP fold by Pawar, senior NCP leaders Praful Patel, Supriya Sule, Sunil Tatkare and others.

    Chacko recalled his association with Pawar when both of them were in the Congress.

    Prior to Chacko joining the NCP, Pawar met CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury.

    After formally joining the NCP, Chacko said the LDF will return to power in Kerala.

    The NCP is a constituent in the LDF in Kerala. Chacko said he will start campaigning for the LDF in a few days. 

    Announcing his resignation from the Congress last week, Chacko had alleged group interest in deciding the party’s candidates for the upcoming Kerala Assembly polls.

    Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi represents the Wayanad constituency in Kerala in the Lok Sabha.

    “What is needed is unity of the opposition. A united opposition should emerge as an alternative to the BJP. I do not see that initiative very much from the party that I was in earlier. I am sure that Pawar sahib, his leadership and contacts will be effective in forging the unity of the opposition,” said Chacko.

    (With PTI Inputs)