Most voters in Kerala's Alathur Lok Sabha constituency toil in the fields. They would write 'Agriculture' in the column against 'work' on any form as it is their main stay.
This constituency, which is reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates, produces not only milk and rice, but toddy too. That makes water a burning political topic. River water deals and irrigation projects swing votes. Water ‘washed away’ 21,147 votes with the 'Nota' option during the 2014 Lok Sabha poll.
Two-time sitting MP PK Biju of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is being challenged by Ramya Haridas of the United Democratic Front (UDF). The NDA candidate is TV Babu. The role of his party - Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) - is a decisive factor in the constituency.
From right to left
Alathur Lok Sabha constituency is made up of Tarur, Chittur, Nenmara and Alathur in Palakkad district; and Chelakkara, Kunnamkulam and Wadakkanchery in Thrissur district. All Assembly constituencies except Wadakkanchery have MLAs of the LDF.
Alathur became a Lok Sabha constituency after Ottapalam became non-existent after delimitation. The Assembly constituency of Ottapalam is now part of the Palakkad Lok Sabha constituency. K R Narayanan, later the President of India, had won on Congress ticket from the Ottapalam Lok Sabha seat.
Unique row
Songs are creating waves in the constituency and social media too is active this time around. Congress candidate Ramya sings on her poll trail.
Circumstances at home were such that I couldn't learn to sing or dance during childhood. I am confident now as a result of encouragement from my teachers, she says.
But Ramya’s ‘melody campaign’ met with harsh criticism from rival CPM supporters online. Congress supporters showered her with ‘likes’. It is yet to be seen if the ‘shares’ reflect in her vote share.
People’s favourite
Ramya is making waves as she campaigns and the UDF is confident about her prospects. ‘She is like my daughter,’ is a response Ramya hears often on her campaign trail. She has a ‘girl next door’ image, says some others.
She is the president of Kunnamangalam panchayat in Kozhikode district. She entered the Youth Congress leadership ranks from Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s talent hunt. She does crowd funding to meet campaign expenses. Experienced in environmental, Dalit activism, Ramya is a star on social media and among youngsters. Even though fund crunch affected higher studies, she learnt Japanese, English and Hindi on her own.
Development factors
Biju is blamed for not bringing big projects to the constituency which has a large number of farmers, fishermen and traders. He defends saying he has contributed to initiatives that have helped common man. He cites the case of developments in Thrissur Medical College, which is located in Mulankunnathukavu, and small ventures in villages for which funds were disbursed under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). CPM says Biju is a ‘perfect MP’ as far as attendance, questions and interventions in the Lok Sabha goes. A strong organisational setup gives the Left camp more confidence this time.
MPLADS funds can be distributed by officials. What has Biju initiated, ask UDF leaders in the constituency.
Wadakkanchery-Mannuthi six-lane road and Wadakkanchery overbridge are examples of his incomplete work. Not one railway station could be modernised. No progress in agricultural sector, either. The MP is not to be seen in constituency, a charge seconded by CPM workers too, they allege.
People of Alathur received no benefits of several central government project because of the sitting MP’s inefficiency, charges NDA leaders. At the same time the CPM candidate has claimed several of such projects as his, the NDA camp alleges.
CPM has listed Alathur in the list of ‘sure seats’. Former speaker K Radhakrishnan’s name was doing the rounds, though Biju has been the sitting MP from Alathur for two terms. But Biju was given another chance after his 37,312-vote victory over UDF’s KA Sheeba in the 2014 polls.
Biju commenced political activity with the SFI, CPM's students' wing, and rose in its ranks to become its national president.
Growing up in a hut with electricity, I know the problems of common man and has brought development worth Rs 2,206 crore for them, Biju said.
Babu hopeful
NDA candidate Babu, the former Left leader and activist, attacks both the LDF and the UDF. He was the former president of Chazhoor Panchayat and Anthikad Block Panchayat. He had contested from the Nattika assembly constituency as an NDA candidate. He showcases Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s achievements in campaigns. He is expected to make big strides with BJP votes too.
