NEW DELHI: Though the BJP seems to have failed to perform impressively in the Kerala civic elections, however, it has significantly improved its 2015 tally. The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) has maintained its numero uno position with the main opposition and Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), slipping but still coming second in the recently-concluded elections to village panchayats, district panchayats and municipal corporations.
Among the factors which helped the BJP improve its performance include the Sabarimala agitation and inclusive politics - fielding 600 Christian and Muslim candidates for the first time and using the services of its senior leaders belonging to the minority communities and belonging to the state.
Talking to the timesofindia.com, BJP spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said a “sound foundation” has been laid for the party in the forthcoming Kerala assembly elections next year.
He said, “The green shoots (of the BJP) are visible across Kerala. There is a visibility of minority votes being transferred to the BJP. According to the initial figures available, 10% of the Christian votes have got transferred to the party while the Muslim votes have consolidated in favour of the LDF.”
Vadakkan said the Congress has been the biggest loser in these civic elections. “We have done better than the last time. We have touched a 1600-mark. Last time the figure was 1200. The BJP has made inroads into the traditional constituencies of senior Congress leaders such as former defence minister AK Antony, former chief minister Oommen Chandy, leader of opposition in the Kerala assembly Ramesh Chennithala and Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor.”
The Sabarimala controversy seems to have helped the BJP. It is ahead of the others in Pandalam, which was the epicenter of the protests organised by the party along with other Hindu groups against the entry of women of menstruating age inside the temple.
The protests followed the Supreme Court judgment allowing women of all age groups to enter the Sabarimala temple.
Moreover, in an unprecedented move, the BJP put up over 600 Muslim and Christian candidates - 112 Muslims and 500 Christians - for the panchayat, municipalities and corporation elections which were held on December 8, 10 and 14.
Furthermore, the BJP deputed three of its leaders from Kerala itself and all belonging to the minority communities - national vice-president AP Abdullakutty, a Muslim; and national spokesperson Tom Vadakkan and Rajya Sabha MP KJ Alphons, both Christians - for campaigning in the civic polls.
The move was to send across the message that the BJP was reaching out to the minorities and that it is a national inclusive party. It also sought to counter the alleged propaganda of the Congress and the Left parties that the minorities will not support it, to respect the sentiments of the Muslim and Christian community leaders for contesting these elections and to expand its base in the southern state which faces assembly election in the next six months.
The strategy seems to have partially paid off. The BJP is ahead in 23 gram panchayats and two municipalities. The ruling LDF appeared to make a sweep of the local body polls in the state.
The Left Front was leading in 514 gram panchayats, five corporations and 11 district panchayats. The UDF was in the second spot, leading in over 400 local bodies.
In 2015, LDF emerged as the most successful coalition securing 549-gram panchayats, 90 block panchayats, 44 municipalities and four corporations.
The LDF and UDF drew level at the district panchayat, winning seven districts each.
The BJP-led coalition came third with 14-gram panchayats and one municipality.