Southern States - Kerala   

'Parties playing communal card in poll campaign'

By Radhakrishnan Kuttoor

PATHANAMTHITTA Nov. 21. A cross-section of people here today alleged that both the ruling United Democratic Front and the Opposition Left Democratic Front, besides the BJP, were playing the "communal card" in the by-election campaign in Thiruvalla.

Condemning the growing trend of communalisation of politics in the State, they told The Hindu: "Secularism is skin-deep here. Everyone openly swears by secularism. But, behind the scenes, they are playing the communal card."

Apolitical people pointed out that while Ministers and UDF stalwarts were busy calling on Bishops and religious leaders, the Left parties were protecting certain minority community leaders who they had criticised earlier. "The BJP, on its part, was desperately trying to exploit the situation in an effort to win "popular acceptance" to its "saffronisation policy."

The BJP leaders `justify' their `majority appeasement' saying that it is no different from the `minority appeasement' of the LDF and the UDF. "All these are signs of a dangerous trend in a State like Kerala where certain self-centred politicians are making deft moves to gain `public acceptance' for their `appeasement' politics," they said.

The CPI(M) has reportedly sought the `help' of a former National Minority Commission member who is said to wield `influence' over a section of the Pentecostal Christian group in the constituency. Political analysts say these are signs of "lack of confidence among the modern-day leaders in their political ideology".

A section of the clergy and laity of the Malankara Orthodox Church has openly called upon the community members to "give a fitting reply to the UDF Government, which had failed to implement the Supreme Court order in the Church case". This sent shock waves in the UDF camp as the Orthodox Church has a considerable vote bank in the constituency. Some Ministers and Kerala Congress(M) leaders had reportedly called on the Church leaders to "settle the issue".

There are allegations that certain Left quarters were behind the `revolt' against the UDF by a section of the Orthodox Church members. It is also alleged that the entire issue was `stage-managed' by certain KC(M) local leaders belonging to the Orthodox Church in a bid to secure the party ticket for the by-poll to the Thiruvalla constituency, which has been represented by those belonging to the Mar Thoma Church during the past several years.

Meanwhile, the CPI(M) and other LDF partners are allegedly precipitating the issue with the help of their `supporters' in the Church. The Ministers belonging to the KC(M) had held talks with the Orthodox Church head, Baselius Mar Thoma Mathews-II.

It is also a fact that some sort of `over-playing' of the `Orthodox issue' has led to a `counter-reaction' and `consolidation' in the Mar Thoma Church in the constituency, which might be `helpful' to the UDF in the long run.

Mammen Mathai was the lone Mar Thoma MLA and the UDF is trying to send the `message' that a LDF victory in the bypoll would lead to the community losing its representation in the Legislature party of the ruling front.

While the propagators of the `Orthodox sect' theory claim that their community has a numerical edge in the constituency, members of various other Churches counter this saying that the existing equation would change with the delimitation of the Assembly constituency by the next general elections.

It is noteworthy that both the fronts have been `claiming' the support of various Churches for their candidates in the ensuing by-poll. There have also been reports of a `pamphlet war' in the offing between the warring political fronts. One such `plea' has already hit the streets in the name of `Idayasreshtan' (Bishop) stating that "the UDF Government had failed to ensure justice to the Church and the faithful should think twice before exercising their franchise in the ensuing by-poll."

The polling is slated for December 1 and political analysts expect hectic lobbying by both the fronts on the eve of polling on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the `I' group in the Congress too is in a dilemma with the Nair Service Society coming out openly against "any move to unseat the democratically elected Antony Government."

Though the `I' group does not have much clout in the constituency, the NSS decision was a bolt from the blue, at least in Thiruvalla where a large number of its supporters belonged to the Nair community.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Muslim Juma-at Council State leadership has made its stance clear to oppose the UDF in Thhiruvalla. The KC(M) has already arranged a campaign by the Indian Union Muslim League leaders, P.K. Kunhalikutty and M.K. Muneer, in the Muslim pockets of Paippad and Niranam to counter this Juma-at `threat' allegedly backed by the LDF.

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