Political parties are gearing up for the Lok Sabha elections, which are to be held in a year’s time. BJP’s moves are fast. Congress, on the other hand, does not know where to start. The enthusiasm raised by Rahul Gandhi through the Bharat Jodo Yatra is evident in the activists and leaders. However, the party is not sure whether Bharat Jodo will be able to return to power.
In 2014, which saw Modi’s chariot race, the Congress was reduced to a history of embarrassment. The oldest party in the country won 44 seats. In 2019, the situation improved slightly. With the strength of Kerala, the number of seats has been increased to 52. The seat of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha has remained vacant for two consecutive terms. Congress leaders are saying that the situation will be more favorable when it reaches 2024. It is impossible for Congress to win more seats in UP, West Bengal, Bihar and Maharashtra which have more constituencies. The leadership believes that if in any state the seats cross the double digits, it will be Kerala.
However, the situation in Kerala is now unpredictable. This is not the situation in the state in 2019. It is imperative for the ruling Left to increase its participation in the Lok Sabha. CPM has only one member from Kerala in the Lok Sabha. Left parties will show more caution in the selection of seats with the sole aim of winning. Apart from this, things will not be easy for the Congress this time as the BJP will also try to increase its vote share. Kasaragod- Rajmohan Unnithan, Wayanad- Rahul Gandhi, Palakkad- V.K. Srikanthan, Alathur- Ramya Haridas, Chalakudy- Benny Behnan, Ernakulam- Hibi Eden, Idukki- Dean Kuriakos, Mavelikkara- Kodikunnyil Suresh are those who are sure to contest again. However, it will be difficult to retain these seats completely.
Seven of the sitting MPs are not going to Delhi this time. KPCC As the president has a heavy responsibility, K. Sudhakaran will not contest. Ill health is also a problem for him. K. declared that he is ready for anything if the party says it. Muralidharan is in two minds about going to the Lok Sabha. He wants to leave Vadakara and return to state politics. There is no objection to giving up the seat to the League. Otherwise, K.Muralidharan takes the stand that Mullapallali Ramachandran should contest again in Vadakara.
Muralidharan is eyeing Vattiurkao or any seat in Kozhikode district. Repeating that there is no game left in Kozhikode, M.K. Raghavan will also be active in the state. The assembly constituency in the city center is the target. TN who performed well as an MP. Pratapan also seems tired of Delhi. He has publicly said that he is no longer in the Lok Sabha, keeping his love for Indraprastha. Antony Antony, who has been a member of the Lok Sabha since 2009, is also being reconsidered. He is preparing to make thattakam Kerala.
Atingalil, the left fort. After overthrowing Sampath, Adoor Prakash is about to return to Konni. His calculation is that Konni can be actively recaptured in the state. Shashi Tharoor, who is aiming for the Chief Minister’s chair, has also given up his Lok Sabha dream. Claiming to have the support of NSS and Christian churches, he may contest for the assembly. In principle, out of the total 15 sitting MPs, only eight people will be in the contest. Many contested for the Lok Sabha in 2019 expecting a change of power at the Centre. With Rahul Gandhi also entering the field in Wayanad, Congress managed to win 15 seats. The assessment of the sitting MPs is that there is no possibility of such a jump this time. The reason behind their change of heart is that the chances of Congress getting power at the national level are rare. MP The central government’s introduction of restrictions on matters including fund utilization is also forcing the leaders to think differently.
