UDF candidate Kodikunnil Suresh, MP throughout electioneering in Mavelikara Lok Sabha constituency. File.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
It is not any exaggeration to say that the Mavelikara (SC reserved) Lok Sabha constituency is in for an engrossing ballot battle.
The Parliament phase is unfold throughout three districts of Alappuzha, Kollam and Kottayam and covers seven Assembly constituencies from low-lying Kuttanad to Pathanapuram.
The key query is whether or not the voters votes for continuity or change in the upcoming polls.
While the Congress-led UDF is hoping to take care of its dominance, the CPI(M)-led LDF is eager on wresting the seat, which it final gained in 2004. The BJP-led NDA, which fared moderately nicely in 2019, is a pressure to reckon with in Mavelikara.
Mostly Congress
Historically the constituency will not be thought-about a bastion of anybody however has principally supported the UDF and the Congress. Since its inception in 1962, Mavelikara has elected Congress nominees or party-supported candidates 11 instances in 15 elections.
It underwent a main delimitation course of twice, the final time in 2008 and grew to become a Scheduled Caste (SC) reserved seat following the dissolution of the Adoor Lok Sabha constituency (SC reserved).
After redrawing boundaries, senior Congress chief Kodikunnil Suresh is the one one to have represented Mavelikara in the Lower House successful elections in 2009, 2014 and 2019. In 2019, Mr. Kodikkunnil defeated his nearest rival Chittayam Gopakumar of the CPI by a margin of 61,138 votes. Before shifting to Mavelikara, Mr. Kodikunnil had contested from Adoor six instances and gained 4 elections.
The Congress veteran initially expressed his intention to remain out of the fray in 2024 however later heeded the social gathering’s name and is now gunning for a fourth consecutive victory from Mavelikara.
The LDF has fielded a younger face, C.A. Arunkumar of the CPI, to wrest the seat. Mr. Arunkumar, an All India Youth Federation chief, was the extra non-public secretary to Agriculture Minister P. Prasad.
Hoping to construct on its good efficiency in 2019, the NDA has fielded Congress turncoat Baiju Kalasala. Mr. Kalasala is contesting the ballot underneath the BDJS banner.
While the UDF seeks votes primarily based on good works carried out in the previous 15 years, the LDF and NDA spotlight a lack of growth in the course of the interval.
Crises in the paddy, rubber, and cashew sectors and human-animal conflicts are among the main speaking factors on the electioneering entrance. That mentioned, the caste and spiritual equations would be the key components deciding the ballot as numerous Christian organisations, the NSS and the SNDP Yogam maintain sway over the constituency.
Apart from Kuttanad and Pathanapuram, the Mavelikara Lok Sabha seat contains Chengannur, Mavelikara (SC reserved), Kottarakara, Kunnathur (SC Reserved) and Changanasserry Assembly segments.
The UDF, in 2019, secured leads in all of the seven constituencies. The LDF, nonetheless, turned the desk in the 2021 Assembly polls successful all seven segments. What provides confidence to the NDA is that it elevated its votes from 79,743 in 2014 to 1,33,546 in 2019.