It's extremely warm in Kerala, temperature is rising everyday. The election fever is getting into high gear. Except for the LDF, the UDF and the BJP are yet to get their final list of candidates announced. Some in the ranks of the Congress are ecstatic about the news that Rahul Gandhi would contest in Wayanad, in addition to Amethi. There are many others who ask as to why the BJP was taking so much of time to finalise its list when its candidates were sure to lose either to the LDF or the UDF.
A host of questions are awaiting answers! But sample these queries.
Is the LDF in an unassailable position simply because it got its list out first? The chief minister's face betrayed a sense of uncertainty on the day the news of Rahul Gandhi's candidature from Wayanad was announced - the sense of anger and betrayal was palpable. He almost mumbled that the Congress was after the communists while they should have gone for the BJP's and thereby, Modi's jugular. The CPM and the CPI will also feel the pinch of many of their LDF constituents' pique at not having been given constituencies to fight the elections. Could it, ultimately, turn out to be the Waterloo for the Communists in the state? Their governance, thus far, does not give any cause for cheer, either!
The Congress feels that it has the Prime Ministerial(?) candidate among its candidates and that has electrified the rank and file of late. But isn't it a bit too early for the celebrations? The party president's take on the Sabarimala issue was against the state party unit's stand. He'll have a lot to answer for the different take. The infighting and the rampant groupism are other factors that has the Congress and a few of its allies worried. Be it the Congress or the Muslim League or the Kerala Congress, this is a major setback that can affect its final position. Otherwise, in an overall sense, the UDF seems to be sitting pretty!
What does one say about the BJP? It needs to open its account. Thiruvananthapuram would have, easily, been within its grasp had Mohanlal agreed to be its candidate, what with his gushing remarks about his meeting with the Prime Minister - like a lovesick school girl - and finally refusing to be its candidate in the state's capital because 'he wanted everyone', that too, only after bagging the Padma Bhushan! Will the voters of Pathanamthitta hand over its first MP for its stand - or should I say, Surendran's theatrics - in the recent Sabarimala issue? Will Alphons Kannanthanam be able to make an impact in Ernakulam and will the entire lot of Christians back him while dumping Hibi Eden?
And of what use is the NSS? What is it trying to achieve by being 'equidistant' from all groups? A NOTA - None of the above?
It's interesting and one can't help watching the thick skinned politician and his political ideology that keeps changing every minute. How does the corrupt Anwar (Ponnani) and Joyce George (Idukki) ask for votes in their constituencies despite their dubious track record? What about Shashi Tharoor who's facing serious allegations regarding his wife's untimely death.
The coming days will be worth the wait to see how the turncoats, the ruthless, the fixers and the pliable play their roles to the hilt! The average Indian voter - you and me - are being taken for another ride!!
Tailpiece.
Finally, both Vineesh and Sajid were not available to chauffeur us to Palakkad. Lekha had got up at 4 AM and we were able to kick off from 'The Quarterdeck' by a quarter past 7. Vishy allayed the fears of the rise in my Bilirubin to 1.1 from 0.8 in the last set of test results. I was driving on a long trip for the first time after my illness!
Reached Rema's place by 9, had the 'semiya upma' brought along by Lekha. Our attending Rahul's wedding at the Sree Parvathy Kalyanamandapam helped us to meet many of our relations from Neelamperoor. I'd insisted on attending this wedding because Rahul's grandfather, Divakaran chittappan, used to be very fond of me; it's my small tribute to the wonderful and kind gentleman that he was!
Lekha, Rema and I were there till the very end. Here's wishing Rahul and Sukanya a long and happy married life. May you get whatever you wish for! In the evening we cut Rema's birthday cake - her date of birth as per the English calendar was on the 21st while it's on the 29th as per the Malayalam calendar - which Lekha had baked last evening. Babita, the vet next door, was the guest.
A host of questions are awaiting answers! But sample these queries.
Is the LDF in an unassailable position simply because it got its list out first? The chief minister's face betrayed a sense of uncertainty on the day the news of Rahul Gandhi's candidature from Wayanad was announced - the sense of anger and betrayal was palpable. He almost mumbled that the Congress was after the communists while they should have gone for the BJP's and thereby, Modi's jugular. The CPM and the CPI will also feel the pinch of many of their LDF constituents' pique at not having been given constituencies to fight the elections. Could it, ultimately, turn out to be the Waterloo for the Communists in the state? Their governance, thus far, does not give any cause for cheer, either!
The Congress feels that it has the Prime Ministerial(?) candidate among its candidates and that has electrified the rank and file of late. But isn't it a bit too early for the celebrations? The party president's take on the Sabarimala issue was against the state party unit's stand. He'll have a lot to answer for the different take. The infighting and the rampant groupism are other factors that has the Congress and a few of its allies worried. Be it the Congress or the Muslim League or the Kerala Congress, this is a major setback that can affect its final position. Otherwise, in an overall sense, the UDF seems to be sitting pretty!
What does one say about the BJP? It needs to open its account. Thiruvananthapuram would have, easily, been within its grasp had Mohanlal agreed to be its candidate, what with his gushing remarks about his meeting with the Prime Minister - like a lovesick school girl - and finally refusing to be its candidate in the state's capital because 'he wanted everyone', that too, only after bagging the Padma Bhushan! Will the voters of Pathanamthitta hand over its first MP for its stand - or should I say, Surendran's theatrics - in the recent Sabarimala issue? Will Alphons Kannanthanam be able to make an impact in Ernakulam and will the entire lot of Christians back him while dumping Hibi Eden?
And of what use is the NSS? What is it trying to achieve by being 'equidistant' from all groups? A NOTA - None of the above?
It's interesting and one can't help watching the thick skinned politician and his political ideology that keeps changing every minute. How does the corrupt Anwar (Ponnani) and Joyce George (Idukki) ask for votes in their constituencies despite their dubious track record? What about Shashi Tharoor who's facing serious allegations regarding his wife's untimely death.
The coming days will be worth the wait to see how the turncoats, the ruthless, the fixers and the pliable play their roles to the hilt! The average Indian voter - you and me - are being taken for another ride!!
Tailpiece.
Finally, both Vineesh and Sajid were not available to chauffeur us to Palakkad. Lekha had got up at 4 AM and we were able to kick off from 'The Quarterdeck' by a quarter past 7. Vishy allayed the fears of the rise in my Bilirubin to 1.1 from 0.8 in the last set of test results. I was driving on a long trip for the first time after my illness!
Reached Rema's place by 9, had the 'semiya upma' brought along by Lekha. Our attending Rahul's wedding at the Sree Parvathy Kalyanamandapam helped us to meet many of our relations from Neelamperoor. I'd insisted on attending this wedding because Rahul's grandfather, Divakaran chittappan, used to be very fond of me; it's my small tribute to the wonderful and kind gentleman that he was!
Lekha, Rema and I were there till the very end. Here's wishing Rahul and Sukanya a long and happy married life. May you get whatever you wish for! In the evening we cut Rema's birthday cake - her date of birth as per the English calendar was on the 21st while it's on the 29th as per the Malayalam calendar - which Lekha had baked last evening. Babita, the vet next door, was the guest.
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