Ernakulam Constituency: Congress Aims To Retain Bastion; CPM In A Close Pursuit

As Kerala is voting on April 26, voters in Ernakulam constituency which is witnessing a close contest, will also be headed to polling booths. The Congress party, strong in the business capital of the state, is striving to fortify its stronghold amidst close pursuit from the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the emerging Twenty20 party.

Congress has re-nominated its sitting MP, Hibi George Eden, for the Ernakulam constituency. Hibi, the son of the late George Eden, former MP of the constituency, secured a historic victory in 2019. Widely recognized for his dynamic leadership and extensive networks, Hibi Eden emerged victorious with an impressive majority. The Congress party had initiated pre-poll preparations six months ahead of the formal announcement of Eden’s candidature. In the previous election, Eden defeated P. Rajeev by a significant margin of 1.69 lakh votes, amidst a robust voter turnout of 78.68%.

This time, in a surprising move, the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front has nominated KJ Shine, a woman municipal councillor from the nearby North Paravur Municipality, as its candidate for the Ernakulam constituency. A dedicated teacher known for her dynamism and articulation, Shine has made her mark in the constituency.

On the other hand, the BJP has put forward KS Radhakrishnan, a former vice chancellor and chairman of the Kerala Public Service Commission, as its candidate. Meanwhile, Twenty20, the political wing of the Kitex Group, is entering the fray buoyed by a significant increase in voting percentage in the previous election. State president Sabu Jacob sees Twenty20 as a viable third option for those seeking a corruption-free government.

Ernakulam, known as the industrial hub of Kerala, holds a strong association with the Congress party and traditionally elects candidates from the Latin Catholic Community, which forms a significant portion of its population. The community’s influence, comprising about 53 percent of the constituency’s population, is pivotal in determining the election outcome. With the Latino community making up 45 percent of the voters, both political fronts are keen on fielding candidates from this community. Sebastian Paul, backed by the CPI (M), remains an exception in this regard.

The Ernakulam constituency consists of seven Legislative Assembly constituencies: Kalamassery, Paravur, Vypin, Kochi, Thrippunithura, Ernakulam, and Thrikkakara. Established in 1952, it falls under the General category parliament seat.

The UDF has a strong track record, winning 13 out of 16 elections held so far. In the last 2021 Assembly Election, the CPM secured 3 MLAs, while the INC secured 4 MLAs from the Ernakulam Parliament Constituency.

In Ernakulam, political issues took center stage as both the UDF and the LDF targeted the BJP-led Union Government’s alleged misdeeds. The UDF doesn’t shy away from highlighting the failures of the LDF government in Kerala. Meanwhile, the BJP emphasizes the “Modi Ki Guarantee” theme, criticising the shortcomings of both the UDF and LDF over the years.

District Collector and District Election Officer N.S.K. Umesh assured the public of the readiness for a fair election in the district come Friday.

With an electorate of 26.34 lakh, comprising 13.52 lakh women, 12.82 lakh men, and 31 transpeople, preparations are in place across constituencies within Ernakulam, Chalakudy, Idukki, and Kottayam Parliament constituencies.

According to the Mega Prepoll Survey, the UDF stronghold in central Kerala, including Ernakulam, is expected to remain intact. The majority of respondents believe that the LDF will have to wait for victory in Ernakulam. The election result will be announced on June 4.