Kollam: Kunnathur, a scheduled caste (SC) reserved constituency for decades, has always been a stronghold of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kollam district. This time, the sitting MLA Kovoor Kunjumon, who is the only candidate of Revolutionary Socialist Party (Leninist) in this polls, is all set to try his luck for a fifth consecutive victory from the constituency.
Over the past four terms, Kunjumon has consistently improved his majority and the constituency stood with the LDF. However, this time, the fight is crucial for the LDF, which received a setback in the 2020 LSG polls when the UDF managed to secure significant upper hand in five out of the 10 panchayats in the traditional red bastion. The defeat in five panchayats was a severe hit to the local leadership of the LDF, especially the CPM and was discussed at the district and state levels.
“The setback for LDF in East Kallada, Munroethuruthu, Poruvazhy, Sooranad North and Mynagapally panchayats, despite the pro-Left wave across Kerala in the LSG polls, was a severe hit to the LDF in Kunnathur. There were several issues, including lack of coordination within the LDF, during the polls and they reflected in the results. Losing Sooranad North panchayat, a strong bastion of CPI and CPM, to the Congress where those, including senior leaders, were defeated was a clear example of lack of coordination. This time the campaign works have started in full swing and the LDF is sure about the victory,” said a local committee member of CPM.
The polls will be crucial for Kunjumon too as there are reports of infighting in the RSP (L). Kunjumon has won four times since 2001 from Kunnathur, which is a traditional seat of the RSP. Even in 2016 when RSP left the LDF, Kunjumon left RSP, floated RSP (L) and contested as the LDF-independent against RSP’s Ullas Kovoor from Kunnathur winning the seat with a majority of 20,529 votes, the biggest in his four-term as legislator.
“Recently, there were open fights between Kunjumon and S Baladev, the state secretary of RSP (L). Baladev expelled Kunjumon from the party alleging that the party lost the posts it could have received in boards and corporations because of the MLA’s interventions. He even demanded the constituency to be removed from the reserved constituency list. Later, Kunjumon announced that he expelled Baladev from the party. The issues between the two remain unsettled and it might reflect in the elections. Hence it is a crucial fight for Kunjumon this time,” said a party source.
The UDF has entrusted the task with Ullas Kovoor again with the hope that he could give a better fight to Kunjumon this time. The UDF pins hopes on the improved results they secured in the LSG polls. The NDA candidate, Raji Prasad, is a BJP local leader from Kalluvathukal who contested to the district panchayat in the LSG polls.