Report Wire

Tag: Kerala Polls 2021

  • Kerala polls: Ex-Congress MLA Gopinath rebels in opposition to occasion’s youth wing chief in Palakkad

    Express News Service
    PALAKKAD: Former DCC president A V Gopinath has raised the banner of revolt in opposition to his occasion and Youth Congress state president Shafi Parambil who’s probably to contest from the Palakkad meeting constituency.

    Gopinath is banking on the help from the LDF which had completed third within the constituency within the 2016 elections. 

    Gopinath, who can also be a former MLA, informed TNIE that the Congress has been sidelining him for the previous a few years and he isn’t going to take it mendacity down anymore. He added that he’s ready for a response from the Congress management.

    “I am not after the party ticket or any posts in the party. Pushed to the wall, I will campaign in the whole state but will never say for which party,” he mentioned.

    Asked whether or not he’ll contest in Palakkad meeting seat, Gopinath mentioned he has not determined something until now. 

    The CPM district secretariat which met right here on Tuesday is learnt to have beneficial the title of C P Pramod within the seat. Party district secretary C Ok Rajendran mentioned, “Gopinath has not approached us. He still remains in Congress. Let him make his stand clear and only after that, we can discuss it.”  

    District secretariat member and occasion strongman P Ok Sasi additionally mentioned Gopinath has not contacted the CPM.

    “However, if he abandons Congress, the CPM is ready to welcome him. Gopinath had differences with the party for some time,” mentioned Sasi. 

    Meanwhile, a senior Congress chief mentioned on situation of anonymity that Gopinath won’t ever go away the occasion.

    “Everyone knows that if he contests from Palakkad even with the LDF support, he stands no chance of winning. Therefore, as far as I know, he is eyeing the post of DCC president after V K Sreekantan, MP, steps down. This posturing could be a move to get an assurance on it,” he mentioned.

    In the 2016 meeting elections, CPM’s N N Krishnadas was relegated to the third place with 28.07 per cent votes, whereas Shafi obtained 41.77% votes and BJP’s Sobha Surendran 29.08% votes.

    When in comparison with the 2011 meeting elections, Shafi’s vote financial institution had remained roughly the identical. In 2011, Shafi had secured 42.41% votes, CPM’s Ok Ok Divakaran 35.82% and BJP’s Udayabhaskar 19.80%, which reveals that CPM votes had gone to the BJP. 

    Gopinath had proved his mettle by defeating the CPM in its citadel of Alathur in 1991, the one time majority of voters turned in opposition to CPM.

    He has additionally been the president of Peringottukurissy panchayat for the previous 25 years.The BJP, then again, is toying with the concept of fielding both occasion spokesman Sandeep Warrier or Metroman E Sreedharan.

  • Kerala Assembly elections 2021: Who has the sting?

    By Express News Service
    As Kerala heads to polls on April 6 to pick out a govt, TNIE begins its complete protection of the elections.

    Will Kerala, which is understood to alternate between LDF and UDF, spring a shock? Will BJP strengthen its place? We begin with a SWOT evaluation of the three fronts.

    UDF

    STRENGTHS

    Trio is united 

    The triumvirate of Oommen Chandy, Ramesh Chennithala and Mullappally Ramachandran is conserving apart its variations to dislodge the Pinarayi-led LDF authorities.

    Rahul issue  

    If Congress chief Rahul Gandhi campaigns extensively in Kerala, UDF could have an edge. A tour by Rahul with sister Priyanka Gandhi would assist UDF swing votes in its favour.

    Return of Kunhalikutty  

    The re-entry of P Okay Kunhalikutty, IUML nationwide normal secretary, into state politics has strengthened UDF

    Chandy helming marketing campaign 

    Bringing again well-liked chief Oommen Chandy to go the marketing campaign panel has given a lift to Congress staff.

    WEAKNESS

    Candidate choice

    Selection of candidates alongside ‘A’, ‘I’ group affiliations and the revolt that follows. 

    Jose Mani switching camp

    Jose Okay Mani becoming a member of LDF is predicted to slice away a portion of UDF’s conventional vote base in central Kerala.

    Christian-Muslim pressure 

    Unrest between Muslim and the Christian communities, two main vote banks of UDF, after IUML opposed 10% quota for economically weaker sections amongst ahead castes.

    Church’s concern of Muslim domination 

    The Church fears UDF’s return will imply Muslims occupying distinguished roles with IUML cornering key portfolios, together with training, the place the Church has stakes. It has additionally aired its issues of ‘Love jihad’ and is sad with IUML chief Panakkad Sadik Ali Shihab Thangal’s assertion hailing the reconversion of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia right into a mosque.

    OPPORTUNITIES

    Split in LDF

    Split in LDF allies — Mani C Kappan from NCP, JSS led by A N Rajan Babu and JD(S) led by normal secretary George Thomas – and their entry into UDF has given it momentum.

    Backdoor appointments and PSC rank-holders’ stir

    Government’s failure to settle the strike by PSC rank-holders and the row over backdoor appointments and nepotism have helped UDF.

    Fishing deal

    The deep-sea fishing deal signed by the federal government with US-based EMCC has helped UDF acquire assist of fishers.

    Gold smuggling, LIFE mission: 

    The gold smuggling and LIFE Mission rip-off will help UDF drive house its expenses that the LDF authorities isn’t clear.

    THREATS

    Rebels

    The greatest menace confronted by UDF, particularly Congress is the candidates choice. The get together needs to be very cautious in deciding on candidates.

    LDF’s free meals kits

    The Pinarayi authorities’s transfer to distribute free meals kits, which benefitted 88 lakh  households, is cited as a significant component in serving to LDF register win in native physique polls. To counter this, UDF has promised to introduce NYAY scheme, whereby poor households will obtain Rs 6,000 monthly.

    Palarivattom flyover

    If UDF retains V Okay Ebrahim Kunju in Kalamassery, LDF will use it to assault the entrance throughout campaigning citing the Palarivattom flyover rip-off.

    Veterans who won’t transfer away

    The outdated guard in Congress, together with Okay C Joseph (74), P J Kurien (79) and P C Chacko (74), nonetheless wish to contest, blocking the way in which for younger and new faces.

    LDF

    STRENGTHS

    Pinarayi Vijayan

    Unified management in entrance and the get together. No factional feuds.

    Development 

    Major developmental and infrastructure initiatives along with welfare measures like free meals kits.

    New allies 

    Entry of ex-UDF allies — KC(M) led by Jose Okay Mani and LJD. 

    Local physique momentum

    The normal pro-Left wave within the native physique elections. 

    WEAKNESS

    Weak defence

    Failure to successfully counter campaigns round two latest controversies. 

    No VS

    V S Achuthanandan, the most important crowd-puller and hottest campaigner of LDF within the final three meeting elections, is conserving away this time.

    OPPORTUNITIES

    Favourable sentiment

    Strong public sentiment that the Left could get continuity in workplace. Poll surveys additionally predict the identical.

    Early talks 

    Early seat-sharing inside the entrance with out main disputes. Young and higher candidates.

    Jose Okay Mani

    Making in-roads into Christian vote base in central Travancore with Jose Okay Mani’s entry. 

    THREATS

    Revoking instances

    Possible constructive response from varied communities after withdrawal of instances associated to Sabarimala and anti-CAA protests. 

    Controversies

    Two main controversies that cropped up within the closing lap — Regularising momentary employees and the deep-sea fishing deal.

    Community bother

    Strong opposition from NSS and anti-Left sentiment amongst sure sections submit failure to type out Orthodox-Jacobite situation.

    Mani C Kappan

    Mani switching allegiance to UDF can show expensive for LDF in central Travancore.

    THIRD FRONT

    STRENGTHS

    Dedicated cadre: A devoted cadre and grassroots-level election work involving RSS males

    Money: Huge funding for marketing campaign, Central authorities’s agency backing

    Strategy:  Gaining the boldness of varied Church teams by means of PM-level talks 

    New entrants: Roping in Jacob Thomas, E Sreedharan and different distinguished personalities 

    WEAKNESS

    Internal tussle: Factional feud in state unit that always wants the nationwide management’s intervention 

    Sobha issue:  BJP State VP Sobha Surendran and her supporters but to be taken into confidence

    Chief bother: Opposition inside get together in direction of Okay Surendran’s model of functioning

    Limited avenues: Limited seats within the state the place BJP can win by itself

    OPPORTUNITIES

    Mobilisation:  Prospects of mobilising massive chunk of anti-LDF votes to its benefit 

    Love jihad: Gaining confidence of Christian voters by taking a strident stance in opposition to ‘Love jihad’

    Decider: Playing essential function in deciding winner in not less than 15 seats

    Share: Has likelihood to extend vote share significantly

    THREATS

    Fuel: Rising gasoline and cooking gasoline costs could hamper get together’s probabilities

    Sabarimala: UDF is profiting from Sabarimala issue because it did in 2019        Minority votes: Large-scale consolidation of minority votes .

    Hindutva: Alienating secular voters by excessively whipping up Hindutva

  • RSS employee’s homicide: BJP Kerala unit condemns incident

    By PTI
    ALAPUZZHA: A Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) employee was killed in a conflict between two teams in Kerala’s Alappuzha district on Wednesday night time, police mentioned.

    The man, recognized as Nandu, was killed within the conflict between the RSS and SDPI in Nagamkulangara close to Cherthala, they mentioned.

    READ HERE | RSS shikshak killed after clashes with SDPI activists, hartal in Alappuzha on Thursday

    The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) is the political offshoot of Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI).

    A number of folks have been injured within the incident, police mentioned, with out elaborating on the matter.

    BJP state president Okay Surendran, who’s main the get together’s ‘Vijaya Yatra’ from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram, condemned the killing of the RSS employee.

    He alleged that the PFI was behind the killing of Nandu.

  • Rahul Gandhi interacts with fishermen in Kerala; ventures into sea

    By PTI
    KOLLAM: Seeking to succeed in out to the fishing group in poll-bound Kerala, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday interacted with the fishermen at Thangassery seashore within the district.

    Gandhi, who had been touring the state for the final two days, additionally ventured into sea with the fisherfolks of their boat.

    After starting his journey from Vadi seashore right here by 4.30 am, he spent practically an hour with them earlier than reaching the venue of interplay.

    He additionally forged the online and engaged in fishing together with them.

    Clad in blue t-shirt and khaki trousers, the Congress chief could possibly be seen waving fingers to the onlookers from the boat whereas reaching again to the shores.

    AICC normal secretary Okay C Venugopal and T N Prathapan M P, additionally chairman of National Fishermen Congress, additionally accompanied him throughout his sea journey.

    During the interplay, Gandhi stated he all the time wished to expertise the lifetime of fishermen.

    “Early this morning, I went to sea with my brothers. From the moment the boat went and came back, they took the entire risk…their entire labour. They sought to the sea, buy the net and somebody else gets the profit,” Gandhi stated.

    “We tried to fish but got only one. Even with this investment, the net came back empty. This was my experience,” he added.

    Gandhi additional stated he would attempt to have a separate ministry for fisheries on the Centre.

    “So that the issues of fishing community can be defended and protected,” he stated including that the UDF leaders within the state would quickly maintain discussions with the fisherfolk to organize a separate manifesto for them throughout the impending meeting polls.

    Taking a dig on the LDF authorities apparently over the continued controversy associated to the alleged deep sea fishing contract, the Congress chief stated he wish to see what they had been going to do with the trawlers.

    “I am for competition…but not for unfair competition. So, there should be a level playing filed for everyone,” he added.

    Gandhi’s interplay with the fishermen assumes significance because the Congress-led UDF has raised allegations in opposition to the Left authorities within the state over an alleged deep sea fishing contract with a US-based firm.

    In the wake of the controversy, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had directed the officers involved to cancel the MoU between EMCC, the US-based agency and Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC), a public sector enterprise and probe the circumstances beneath which it was signed.