Rival Fronts in Kerala accuse each other of deals with BJP
Anil:
Check this out,funny stuff.
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KP Sethunath
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Kochi, Sept 7: The electioneering in Kerala has gathered a secular stridency with the rival Fronts making a mad scramble to corner the minority votes, estimated to be nearly 45 per cent of the total electorate.
The ruling Left Democratic Front headed by CPI-M and the Congress-led United Democratic Front, have been engaged in a no-holds bar campaign and accusing each other of having clandestine deals with BJP in the state.
While both Fronts are accusing each other of being in collusion with BJP, the all-out efforts to woo the minority votes, may result in Kerala witnessing the most communally polarised voting in its recent electoral history on September 11. Though BJP may not be able to open its account in the state in the elections, the behaviour of the major political formations might help the Sangh Parivar in the long-run.
The blame for this primarily rests with the UDF which had initiated the trend by starting a whispering campaign that Christian and Muslim voters comprising nearly 45 per cent of thetotal electorate will be with them in this election. The theory of a consolidation of minority votes in favour of UDF, has been based on two factors- entry of Sonia Gandhi into the mainstream politics and fear of Muslims towards BJP.
The UDF had peppered the theory by giving wide publicity to the recent atrocities against Christian missionaries in some north Indian states allegedly by Sangh Parivar.
Not to be left behind, LDF launched a counter-offensive by charging the Congress with entering into clandestine deals with BJP in many constituencies in the state. LDF leaders had cited the instance of BJP, not putting up a party candidate against Congress leader K Karunakaran in Mukundapuram and the Congress nominating an unknown candidate in Thiruvananthapuram, from where BJP leader O Rajagopal is contesting.
LDF had accused the Congress of entering into such deals since 1991, when BJP had failed to put up its candidates from the Vadakara parliament and Beypore assembly seats in the 1991 generalelections.
The Congress retaliated by accusing the CPI-M of entering into strategic tieups with the BJP in the state. Congress leader AK Antony went to the extent of charging the CPI-M with forming election campaign squads on the basis of caste and creed.
The Congress leadership hopes to consolidate its campaign with the whirlwind tour of Sonia Gandhi in Kerala on Tuesday. The campaign venues of Sonia, have been selected with this in mind. As per the schedule, Sonia will address two meetings in the Muslim-dominated Malabar region and three in the Christian-dominated central Travancore.
Realisng the danger, the CPI-M has intensified the campaign citing the failure of the Congress to protect the minorities. It has reeled out the list of minority bashing in Congress-ruled states in north India over the years. The latest addition to the list is the killing of a Christian missionary in Congress-ruled Orissa.
UDF strategists think that if their theory of Christian-Muslim consolidation materialises, theywould win as many as 15 seats in the state. The stridency of the campaign is evident in Thrissur, where the present incumbent VV Raghavan of CPI, is facing a challenge from AC Jose of the Congress. The local Congress workers are openly saying that their hope of victory was in consolidation of Christian votes. The Christian population in the constituency constitutes nearly 25 per cent of the total electorate. The Congress leaders also pointed out that the Muslims in the region, would also vote for the Congress.
Though LDF leaders dismiss such a consolidation, the fortunes of the LDF largely depend on its success to neutralise the UDF campaign impact.The biggest casualty of this will be secularism itself which both fronts have avowed to protect. The absurdity of the campaign becomes evident when viewed in the background of the track record of the two fronts selecting their candidates on the basis of caste and religion.
The bizarre dimensions of this campaign is further evident with the Muslim League leaderPK Kunhalikutty, who, as a minister, had cited religious compulsions and refused to light a traditional lamp to inaugurate a ceremony, is emerging as a champion of secularism.
financialexpress.com |
