The Hindu : Marad emerges as major theme in by-election

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 14, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Marad emerges as major theme in by-election

By C. Gouridasan Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Sept. 13. If there is a single theme that is common to the campaign of different political camps in the September 23 Ernakulam Lok Sabha by-election, it is the delay in rehabilitation of Muslim families that had got uprooted from the Marad beach in Kozhikode in the aftermath of the killing spree in May this year.

The Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency is one dominated by the Latin Catholic community and the candidates of both the ruling UDF and the Opposition LDF belong to this numerically powerful section. However, what could prove decisive in the constituency is the simmering discontent in the minds of Muslims about the Government's failure to rehabilitate some 400 families that are having a torrid time in relief camps.

The Congress knows the danger of Marad rehabilitation becoming a major campaign plank in the constituency which has a sizeable population of Muslims spread over its various Assembly segments such as Mattancherry, Ernakulam and Aluva. Traditionally, the Muslims in Ernakulam have voted with the Congress and the UDF.

The Indian National League (INL) has already declared its support for the LDF candidate, Sebastian Paul. The National Development Front (NDF) has also dropped enough hints that it would use the by-election to settle scores with the UDF for the way the Marad issue was being handled.

Although these outfits do not have a large mass base in the constituency, any forceful campaign intervention by either of them would sway the Muslim electorate in Ernakulam numbering around two lakhs.

The Karunakaran camp had sensed the potency of the Marad rehabilitation issue ahead of the others. The KPCC president, K. Muraleedharan, had gone public with the demand that the rehabilitation should take place without any further delay.

That had clearly put the Government in a spot. With the Sangh Parivar outfits clamouring for a CBI inquiry as a kind of quid pro quo to allow rehabilitation, the Antony regime has been struggling to find a meeting point to the vexed issue.

The Cabinet decision on Friday to complete the rehabilitation by October 2 is seen by many as having come a day too late. One line of thinking is that it would only antagonise the Sangh Parivar without a commensurate shift in favour of the UDF.

The Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which spearheads the Parivar's Marad campaign, is already worked up over the decision of the UDF and LDF to join forces to facilitate rehabilitation in Marad. The BJP-sponsored indefinite fast in Kozhikode seeking justice for the Hindu Araya community of Marad is entering the fourth day on Sunday.

The LDF is clearly happy with the turn of events because this gives it the opportunity to make inroads into the otherwise hostile Muslim vote.

Dr. Paul has used the issue to its hilt in his public speeches and campaign debates leaving his UDF rival hard pressed for an appropriate answer. But, there might still be a silver lining in the horizon for the UDF.

This is on account of the emergence of the PDP candidate, Poonthura Siraj. He is the only serious Muslim candidate in the fray and there is the possibility of at least a section of the discontented voters in Ernakulam voting for him instead of strengthening Dr. Paul's chances.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News Update

Stories in this Section

Marad emerges as major theme in by-election

Take up PAP violation with T.N., says VS

Minister lauds cataract-free scheme

Minister tells NGOs to take up poverty alleviation schemes

SC notice to Govt., Karunakaran

Suspected job racket: one detained

`Encroachment of shola forests goes unchecked in Munnar'

Rehabilitation bid an `eyewash': Pinarayi

Hindu families to give back compensation