Will CPM strategy of wooing Christians work in Thrikkakara by-poll?

By Sreejith Kumar | NT

Thiruvananthapuram: With the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) filing their nominations on Monday, the stage is set for an intense political battle in the Thrikkakkara assembly constituency in Kerala. The LDF has fielded Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s Dr. Jo Joseph and UDF has nominated Congress leader Uma Thomas. National Democratic Alliance candidate AN Radhakrishnan of the Bharatiya Janata Party will file his nomination on Tuesday.

Thrikkakara is a UDF bastion. The election was necessitated following the death of senior Congress leader PT Thomas. Uma is the wife of the late leader. The bye-election is scheduled for May 31.

This is the first by-election for the Pinarayi Vijayan government after it was re-elected after a full term in office in May, 2021.

If Joe Joseph wins the poll, LDF will take its assembly tally to 100. But it appears to be a tough task as Thrikkakara is known to be a UDF bastion. Only UDF candidates have won the seat ever since the formation of the constituency in 2011.

Though there were rumours that Twenty20 would join hands with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and field a candidate this time, the alliance backed out as it felt ‘the outcome would not have any impact on State politics’.

Headstart for UDF
This time, UDF trumped LDF in announcing the candidate immediately after the election notification.

Uma’s candidature, in fact, helped Congress block dissenting voices in the party. On the other hand, CPM struggled to find a suitable candidate. Local leader and advocate K S Arunkumar was a strong contender. Party workers even launched his campaign through social media. Graffitis seeking votes for him appeared in a few places. But CPM sprang a surprise with the selection of Dr. Joe Joseph, a cardiologist working in a hospital owned by the Catholic Church.

CPM eyes Christian votes
Political commentators believe that this was a clever move by the CPM to win the Catholic votes. Uma’s husband and former MLA, late PT Thomas, had strong disagreements with the Church. Though he was a Christian, he had asked his close friends not to hand over his body to the Church. Eventually, he was cremated at the Ravipuram Crematorium in Kochi and a portion of the ashes were interred in his mother’s grave at Upputhode St Joseph Church cemetery in Idukki.

With the Twenty20 withdrawing from the fray, all the three major coalitions are now eyeing to capture its 2021 share of 13,897 votes.

Opposition leader V.D. Satheeshan of the Congress welcomed T20s’ decision to withdraw from the fray. He said if T20 contested the by-poll, it would have split the opposition votes.