Nilambur bypoll exposes UDF's decline despite alliance with communal forces: M V Govindan

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI M State Secretary MV Govindan said the Nilambur by-election result clearly reflects a decline in the United Democratic Front’s public support, even after forming alliances with communal outfits and conducting a high-pitched campaign.

Govindan pointed out that in the 2021 Assembly election, UDF had secured 78,527 votes in Nilambur. In the recent bypoll, it came down to 77,737, showing a decrease of 790 votes. He said that even after joining hands with Jamaat-e-Islami and carrying out a communal campaign throughout Nilambur, UDF was unable to increase its vote share.

He noted that the SDPI, which received 4,751 votes in 2021, saw its votes drop by 2,722 this time. It is evident, he said, that these votes may have gone to the UDF. Additionally, the BJP candidate himself had publicly stated, before the counting, that BJP votes had been given to the UDF candidate. Despite this transfer, UDF's votes still declined.

Govindan also pointed out that BJP’s votes in the Lok Sabha election had been 12,824, which has now dropped to 8,648. Even after combining votes from BJP and SDPI, UDF’s total has decreased. This indicates a clear erosion of public support, despite political manoeuvring. He said that even after aligning with communal forces, Congress failed to gain additional support.

He rejected the narrative that the Nilambur bypoll result reflects any anti-incumbency against the LDF government. He said this interpretation is entirely false and being propagated by right-wing media outlets. He added that there is no anti- governance vote visible in this result.

According to Govindan, the ground support for the CPI M -led Left Democratic Front remains strong. In the 2021 election, an independent candidate was supported by CPI M, and therefore those votes cannot be considered party votes. Before that, in the 2009 Parliament election, CPI M received 37,408 votes. In 2014, When M I Shanavas Contested, CPI M got 52,157 votes. In 2019, when Rahul Gandhi contested, CPI M got 42,020 votes. Again in 2024 Wayanad Lok sabha by election, CPI M secured over 42,000 votes. In the recent Nilambur bypoll, CPI M’s vote count was 66,060. This shows a sharp increase, and the political vote base of CPI M in Nilambur is now close to 40,000 or more.

He said that in the nine years of LDF rule, even with an independent MLA, large-scale development projects were implemented in Nilambur. However, the independent candidate campaigned as though the development was solely due to his efforts. This narrative helped him gain votes, but Govindan called this a temporary support base and not a reflection of any anti- LDF sentiment.

He expressed concern that the political alliance between the Muslim League and communal forces, including the acceptance of their slogans, will damage Kerala’s secular ethos. He said this move by UDF risks alienating religious people and surrendering them to communal forces. The Nilambur bypoll serves as an example of how this is being done. He called it an attempt to destroy Kerala’s social fabric and condemned it strongly.

On M Swaraj's candidacy, Govindan said that the people of Nilambur and Kerala in general accepted him widely. Swaraj’s strong oratory skills and intellectual stature were appreciated by the public. However, some self- proclaimed intellectuals and UDF allies tried to mock him, questioning his relevance. This mockery, Govindan said, shows an opposition to cultural and academic intelligence. Despite such criticism, writers and cultural activists actively campaigned for Swaraj and criticised UDF’s approach. Swaraj’s campaign prominently featured development and Nava Kerala Mission projects.

On the issue of wild animal attacks, Govindan said that it continues to affect Nilambur and other regions of Kerala. The state government has taken all necessary steps and is standing with the affected people. However, the central government has not responded to the state's appeals. Despite this, UDF and its candidate Anvar are blaming the state government, which he called politically motivated.

He also addressed internal matters within the party and the way media handles them. He acknowledged the need for party restructuring in Nilambur, but said that the mainstream media has a long history of targeting left leaders. He said media houses constantly try to portray internal criticism as a collapse of leadership. He referred to recent reports alleging that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had scolded him, calling these completely false. He said such news was prominently published by right-wing newspapers.

Govindan said there were false reports that P Rajeeve and Elamaram Kareem strongly criticised him during a secretariat meeting. Both Mathrubhumi and Malayala Manorama published these as lead stories, but Govindan called them fabricated and said they are part of a deliberate propaganda agenda. He added that legal notices have been sent to the concerned media houses, and the matter will be taken up in court.