Assembly elections in Kerala would witness a resurgence of the Congress-led UDF vis-a-vis the last Lok Sabha elections, though it won't build up the requisite majority.


The UDF had to literally bite the dust at the Lok Sabha elections,campaigned during the regime of Chief Minister A K Antony. The fact that the Congress could not secure a single seat underscored the disdain of the people.The Congress was immersed in mud-slinging of an unprecedented level. From within the party, senior leader K.Karunakaran was at his best in settling scores. He was taking umbrage against Antony and his followers for ditching him earlier.

The communal equations in sharing the benefits of the ruling party in various sectors were not kept in tact. Antony had to pay the heaviest price for it. He thought his unsullied personal image would salvage the lost confidence. Antony was only sitting in an ivory tower.The people's ire is unpredictable.

There were not many supporters for him to make him continue in office after the miserable debacle in the Lok Sabha elections.

In the present Assembly elections, the UDF would not have this predicament. It would prove to be a strong Opposition.

Antony's successor, Oommen Chandy, did his best to lead the UDF. He was courageous enough to throw out splinter group leaders like T M Jacob and R Balakrishna Pillai, who were taught a lesson. The two mischief-making leaders ultimately found their way back into the UDF. Pillai re-entered it directly.Jacob is in the vicinity as his party, the DIC, has electoral understanding with the UDF. Jacob is one leader who has a fund of experience at manouevring and manipulations. He has over-spent his abilities. The people have seen through his tactics.

Then what are the options available for the people. They do not have continuing liking for any front. That is best-proved by the fact that no front could win the elections one after the other.

LDF once, to be followed by the UDF, is the going. The people are fed up with the ruling front. So they have the option to elect the rival front. People do not want the BJP to rule the State.

If The LDF wins, it is not because the people crave for it, but they have a longing to get rid of the machinations of the ruling class.

The CPM's dire deeds to drive out V S Achuthanandan from the electoral fray have helped to spread a sympathy wave for the octogenarian leader who was waiting in the wings to lead a government. If his own party does not want him to be the Chief Minister, the people have come forward to press for his presence. Non-committal voters have come to the aid of Achuthanandan. But will his own party ditch him at the hustings ?

Achuthanandan looks a rigid leader, but he knows the undercurrents well. He has to change his tunes according to the demands of the times. Otherwise, he would be a failure.

The practice of an LDF Government was to pull the government along as the big brother, the CPM, wants it. Everything is decided by the party. So what is there for his rival faction to rue, since the party machinery is firmly with it ?

Let Achuthanandan go through the mills of governance. He should shoulder the responsibility of leading the State through thick and thin. He cannot simply blame the Centre for anything and everything. By giving a request to the Centre for financial aid for setting up projects, he cannot claim having excelled in governance which is a different cup of role.
The people are fed up with both the fronts, but the would like the rival to rule for the nonce.