Marking a record in the constituency, Chengannoor bypoll was won by the CPI(M) led Left Democratic Front with a handsome margin of 20,956 votes. Saji Cherian, the LDF candidate garnered 67,303 votes while Congress candidate D.Vijaya Kumar got 46,347 votes and BJP’s P.S.Sreedharan Pillai got 35,270 votes.
The bypoll happened due to the death of MLA K.K.Ramachandran Nair of CPI(M) earlier this January. The seat, popularly known as a Congress bastion since 1991 until CPI(M) broke their way in through K.K.Ramachandran and won in 2016. Then Congress’ P.C.Vishnunath was defeated by Ramachandran Nair by 7983 votes. Then also the third position was occupied by the BJP Candidate P.S.Sreedharan pillai with 29.33% of votes just behind Vishnunath’s 30.85%.
See also:Is BJP central leadership responsible for their Kerala bypoll defeat?
So what made CPI(M) get a swiping victory in spite of all the negative factors, let’s look:
1.Selection of candidate
Saji Cherian was the strongest candidate that CPI(M) could place, with his astute organisational skills and the shrewdness needed for a political leader. Being the district Secretary of a party which had sent eight out of nine candidates to the state assembly in 2016, he got that remarkable organisational skills. This time he returned to the same seat which 12 years ago made him taste defeat by Congress’ P.C.Vishnunath.The USP which made his win an easy task was his reach to a large section of people thanks to his association with Pain and Palliative Care Unit for years.
2. Putting the religious card of Christian consolidation
Earlier majority of the Christians used to stand behind Congress even during their worst times. The Christian percentage in the constituency including the Orthodox, Marthoma, Pentecostal sects is around 26%. The chunk of vote share belongs to the Protestant groups, the Catholic church had made their protest against the LDF government for their liquor policy. Saji Cherian belongs to a family of Church of South India and using his relatives in the Orthodox church he struck a chord with the community. This striking of chord enabled him to win 67,303 votes out of 1,51,997 votes. Its 14,427 more than the last winner. Another help from the Christian Community was in the form of Shobhana George, erstwhile UDF warrior who changed sides recently, who strongly campaigned for Saji Cherian in the constituency.
3.Well maintained CPI(M) cadre machinery
With an indisputable authority in the ten panchayats and one municipality, this win has been a cake’s walk for the party. Adding to that CPI(M) snatched two Congress strongholds and one BJP fort. The organisational planning was impeccable with the dividing of each segment into two areas and putting each area under a state committee member. It was looked into and made sure that the squads working under the area committee member from Alappuzha and neighbouring Pathanamthitta would visit houses more than 5 times during the campaign period. The administerial abilities of Saji Cherian helped much to erase the negative image portrayed by the opposition.
4. The well-calculated political stand
CPI(M) resorted to a strong anti-Hindutwa stand to woo the Christian and Muslim votes. They even portrayed through their cadres and through the channel debates , the Congress candidate D.Vijayakumar as a Sanghparivar sympathiser. Some CPI(M) leaders even moved to the extent of accusing Ayappa Seva Sangham in which D.Vijaya Kumar was a part of, as a Sangh Parivar Organisation. These all helped them in consolidating the minority votes. Then with the Hindus, party well utilized the sects or castes as they had done with the Christians.CPI(M) cleverly stabilised their traditional vote base comprising of Ezhavas and Dalits, especially the Ezhavas(Majority among Hindus in Kerala). With Pinarayi Vijayan’s decision to provide reservation to the poor among the upper class in Devaswom Board recruitments, the NSS took a supportive stance towards the LDF. This helped Saji Cherian in catching hold of the 24% Nair vote share in the Chenganoor constituency. Another unexpected help came in the form of an old friend, Vellapalli Nateshan, who took an anti-BJP stand during the elections which also helped Saji.
5.Clever image building
When all most all media, except the party run ones, constantly was abuzz with the lawlessness, political murders, misuse of power, custodial deaths, corruption, land grabbing, the extravaganza of the ruling front, the CPI(M) using their ruling machinery spread a positive image of the rule. Many meetings were held with the various sections of society who were the beneficiaries of various government schemes which enabled them to cement the votes from widows and disabled individuals. There were reports that the news about Kevin’s murder which happened just hours before the elections didn’t reach the people of Chenganoor thanks to the apt current cut and the cutting down of cables at some places in the constituency.
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