With A Tripolar Contest, Is Pathanamthitta Edging Towards A Photo FinishPathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency, spanning over Kottayam and the entire Pathanamthitta district, is on the brink of another general election among the three strong candidates. Pathanamthitta constituency comprises seven assembly segments: Kanjirappally, Poonjar, Thiruvalla, Ranni, Aranmula, Konni, and Adoor (SC).
The incumbent MP, Anto Antony, is full of confidence, as he had a hat-trick victory and is assured of his fourth consecutive win. Since the formation of the constituency, the UDF has secured victory in all the Parliamentary elections that took place in Pathanamthitta. Aside from previous elections, the pre-poll reports reflect that this time it is going to be a photo finish in the constituency.
Three candidates have plenty of issues to address in Pathanamthitta. The intrusion of wild animals into farmlands and homes is still a pressing issue in the region. Elephant attacks and the fear of wild tigers and wild boars, poverty, and water scarcity in the tribal areas—all these factors have an impact when the constituency casts votes.
Besides, the religious vote bank plays a decisive role in deciding the future MP, particularly given the presence of three Catholic groups that are against each other. Christian vote share is pivotal for the three parties. BJP aims to garner maximum Hindu votes into their accounts. The Sabarimala temple issue turned beneficial for the BJP in the 2019 election, where the party increased their vote share from 16% in 2014 to 29% in 2019. However, this time, the Sabarimala temple issue is not going to be as helpful as before. The election campaign led by Narendra Modi also drew mass gatherings of BJP supporters. These factors, along with national politics, might work in favour of the BJP in Pathanamthitta.
The BJP has fielded Anil Antony, son of AK Antony, former Congress chief minister, and he is being viewed with mixed enthusiasm even among BJP supporters. The 37-year-old Anil Antony, an engineer by education, neither has any proven political career nor track record, nor is he a potential orator. The political unrest caused by the defection of Anil Antony and the joining of the BJP has triggered deep emotional waves among the electorate. His father, AK Antony, was brimming with tears following Anil’s decision to join the BJP while he was talking to the media. The Believers Church in Pathanamthitta has explicitly expressed its support for Anil Antony. The NDA Alliance has succeeded in settling the disputes over the seat with PC George, who joined the alliance with the BJP along with his party earlier in January.
LDF has fielded veteran Thomas Isaac, a former Finance Minister and also a member of the CPM central committee. He was holding the responsibility of overseeing the Pathanamthitta district and has been camping in various regions of Pathanamthitta for the past one and a half years, associating with various programmes, including the ‘Migration Conclave’. The LDF aims to capture seven assembly segments to garner support in Lok Sabha too, as they are being ruled by LDF MLAs.
Meanwhile, the UDF’s incumbent MP, Anto Antony, hopes to maintain his winning streak. Three consecutive wins in 2009, 2014, and 2019 have boosted the energy for the UDF camp. His statements against the central government on the Pulwama attack have driven him into heated debates. Besides, Priyanka Gandhi’s presence in the election campaign also strengthens the confidence of the UDF.
Three major candidates from the LDF, UDF, and BJP are Catholics. Pathanamthitta comprises a strong Orthodox population, and it contributes a deciding factor in the constituency. The LDF government’s effort to settle the issues between Orthodox and Jacobites may result in enhancing Christian votes in the region.
KC Thomas and V Anoop contest as independent candidates, and Geetha Krishnan of BSP, MK Harikumar of API, and Joy P Mathew of PPIS are the others running for the seat in Pathanamthitta.
(This story is part of a Timeline. internship project.)