P C George is one politician in Kerala who has mastered the art of switching loyalties. With no strong ideological ground or alliance barriers, joining hands with forces of any hue seems to be an easy task for George, known for his foot-in-mouth remarks.
After his years-long stints with the CPM-led Left front and Congress-led Democratic Front, the lone independent legislator in the Kerala Assembly is now all set to join hands with the BJP, which is desperately trying to get some strong foothold in the state where it has only one MLA.
George's decision to be part of the BJP-led NDA and sit with BJP's O Rajagopal in the assembly comes in the wake of ongoing protests over the famed Sabarimala temple.
George, known for his anti-women remarks, is on the same page with the BJP when it comes to the Sabarimala row. The BJP is spearheading the devotees' agitation against the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all age groups to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa Temple, while George from Poonjar assembly constituency is more than certain that the age-old customs of the temple (barring women of 10-50 age group from entering the shrine) should be protected.
The BJP views the Sabarimala context as a 'golden opportunity', to quote its state president P S Sreedharan Pillai, to consolidate the 'hurt Hindu' votes whereas George seems to have bigger plans by cosying up to the saffron camp at this critical juncture. The alliance, in short, is part of an existential game for both the groups.
Delhi dream
George's moves are as unpredictable as opportunistic. With the Lok Sabha elections only six months away, he seems to be eyeing nothing less than a Parliament seat in the 2019 polls by aligning with the BJP. Political observers based in central Kerala feel that George is trying to field his son Shaun George from Pathanamthitta on an NDA ticket. His arch rival Anto Antony represents the Lok Sabha constituency. Anto is likely to be the UDF candidate this time as well. Shaun is well into politics and represents his father's party on TV debates.
While George can never aspire to earn a Lok Sabha seat from either the LDF or UDF with his strength limited to his Poonjar assembly segment only. But ceding one seat to him may not be difficult for the BJP, which has nothing to lose in this bargain.
“George is not someone who would vacate his Poonjar seat for anyone, including his son. Hence, the best option he has now is to arrange a Lok Sabha seat to his son,” said a political observer who knows George too well.
BJP's MT Ramesh had polled 1,38,954 votes in Pathanamthitta in 2014. This time George could argue that he can attract a major portion of Christian votes in the constituency, spanning across Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts, as well.
Neither Geroge's outfit Kerala Janapaksham nor BJP has sent out any word on these possibilities yet.
BJP's Christian face
Having realised that its modus operandi of Hindu consolidation does not work in Kerala unlike in many other states, the BJP is trying hard to make inroads into other communities, especially Christians, in the state.
"The BJP state leadership has got a message from the central leadership to attract as many Christian leaders as possible to the front," a top Congress source told Onmanorama. The party's association with George needs to be looked upon in this context, he added. The leader also said the BJP may reward George with a Lok Sabha seat. That BJP chose to make Alphons Kannanthanam its lone minister from Kerala at the Centre overriding several of its senior Hindu leaders corroborates this theory.
Man of all religions
Just like switching loyalties with major political parties, George is also known to side with different religions at different moments.
"In 2016, he won from Poonjar with the help of SDPI, an Islamic group. That time he used to take pro-Islamic stance on local issues concerning his constituency. Later, he supported Roman Catholic Bishop Franco Mulakkal, when he was accused of rape by a nun. It was in a bid to regain the trust of Christians. Now he is supporting the protests against SC's Sabarimala verdict eyeing Hindu votes," a political observer said, terming his politics 'divisive and substandard'.
He said George may also be trying to bargain with the UDF and the LDF by sending signals to the BJP.
