A new experiment in CPM’s political lab

Kottayam: Puthuppally, Oommen Chandy’s home ground, is the CPM’s political laboratory, where it had conducted many an experiment. The Left has tried young leaders like Reji Zacharia and Sindhu Joy earlier, but to no avail. This time the experiment is little more serious as its candidate, Jaick C Thomas, too hails from the constituency and belongs to the Jacobite church. The rivalry between the Jacobite and the Orthodox churches is (in)famous and this defines the fight when Jaick takes on Chandy, an Orthodox, who has been winning from the constituency since 1970.

A tough task is awaiting Chandy, to protect the majority of 33,255 votes he got in 2011, his biggest victory margin in the 10 elections.

“If Jaick reduces the victory margin of Chandy considerably, then it will be a moral win for him,” said Pratheesh, a salesman at a shop in Manarcaud in Puthuppally.

The famous Manarcaud church is Jaick’s parish. There are around 20 Jacobite churches in the constituency. “He is a very good student, who has easily built a rapport with the new generation. He has acceptance among women voters too,” said Kurien Joseph, a voter. Chandy, on the other hand, is confident as he is a popular figure here as MLA for over 46 years. Interestingly, Chandy won his first election at age 26, which is Jaick’s age now. Chandy has rarely bothered to conduct a poll campaign here after his second win in 1977. Despite that, his winning majority had only increased, except in 1987 when he won by a margin of only 9,164 votes against CPM’s V N Vasavan.

However, this time he is conducting a campaign tour across the constituency for two days. “The Congress campaign in Puthuppally is mainly mouth to mouth. Not much importance is given to flex boards and posters. The people here know him well,” said Chandy Oommen, son of Oommen Chandy.

Congress workers in Puthuppally are dedicated, which has been Chandy’s strength. “His presence is not needed here during election campaigns. We also don’t hold colourful campaigns,” said Philson Mathew, Chandy’s chief election agent. “We are systematic. There are 158 booths in the constituency and in each booth we have booth committees, which are active right from the day election notification is made,” he added. For those in Puthuppally, Chandy is easily accessible as they can walk into his house any time with their problems.

Chandy also makes it a point to be in Puthuppally on Sundays, helping them out. “He has been providing financial help to the needy from the Ashraya Charitable Trust,” said Lisamma Baby, a panchayat member. “The main issue is development. For that, you should give a chance for continuation of the government,” Chandy told voters. “You have always helped me and I know you will do it this time too,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jaick hopes he can raise issues like agrarian and drinking water crisis to win the hearts of traditional Chandy voters. An MA student in international relations, he reaches out to young voters through social media too. He shot into limelight with the strike in CMS College that lasted two months. “Unlike the previous elections, Chandy is holding corner meetings, kudumbayogams and open jeep campaign this time. This shows the LDF candidate has made an impact,” says Pradeep, a party worker. BJP state vice-president George Kurien is the NDA candidate here.