Resignations and Rebels Shake Up Kollam Ahead of Elections

A significant political upheaval is unfolding in Kollam district as local political parties face a wave of resignations and internal dissent ahead of the upcoming local body elections. This turmoil has primarily affected the Communist Party of India (CPI), where a mass resignation occurred in the Kollam East mandalam committee after the party finalized its candidates for the Corporation elections.

Among those who resigned are M S Anoop, a committee member, and R Unnikrishnan, the local secretary of Eravipuram. They were joined by branch secretaries Sunilkumar and B Dayapalan, along with 17 additional party workers and their families. The discontent stems from a controversial decision regarding candidate selection, particularly the swap of the Pattathanam and Bharanikavu divisions, which were previously held by the CPI and the Communist Party of Marxists (CPM).

The CPI’s mandalam committee had initially identified a woman candidate for Bharanikavu and had begun campaigning. However, just before the candidate list was made public, the party nominated a former councillor who had previously faced disciplinary action for Pattathanam. The rebels allege that the district committee made this decision without adequate consultation with lower party units.

In another development, dissent emerged within the Pathanapuram grama panchayat. Four CPI local committee members, along with a branch secretary, resigned due to decisions surrounding Mancode and Chithalvetty wards. Although the Left Democratic Front (LDF) had allocated Mancode to the CPM and Chithalvetty to the CPI, leaders allowed CPI mandalam committee member K P Raju to contest Mancode as an independent. Subsequently, the CPM also fielded its own candidate for Chithalvetty, prompting all five rebels to join the CPM in a move that could impact the electoral outcomes in both wards.

The 2020 local body elections saw the LDF, United Democratic Front (UDF), and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) winning 44, 17, and 2 out of 68 grama panchayats, respectively. The LDF not only dominated the block panchayats but also secured the district panchayat and claimed three out of four municipalities, as well as the lone corporation. Within the corporation, the BJP and Congress each won six seats, while the RSP claimed four, bringing the UDF total to ten in the 55-member council.

P S Supal, the CPI’s Kollam District Secretary, addressed the internal conflicts, stating, “There are a few issues which have cropped up at some quarters. But it’s nothing to be concerned about. We have been able to complete candidate selection in most areas without conflict.” He emphasized that about 95% of the new seats created following the delimitation exercise were amicably divided among allies like CPI and KC(B), with the remaining conflicts being resolved.

The challenges within the LDF extend beyond the CPI. In Kulathupuzha, P Lailabeevi, a four-time member and panchayat president from the CPM, resigned after being denied the Town ward seat. She plans to contest as a rebel candidate against Shiny Baiju, the official CPM nominee. Additionally, several leaders from Kerala Congress (B) have switched allegiance to the RSP in Nadumuruppu and Vazhappara, further complicating the LDF’s electoral prospects.

Dissent is also brewing within the KC(M), now part of the LDF. Pathanapuram constituency president Muhammad Qasim and KYF(M) district vice president Vilakkudi Shanavas are running as independents after being denied nominations. KC(M) officials claim that the LDF had promised more seats during negotiations but later failed to deliver. Shanavas has since been expelled from the Youth Front (M).

In a separate announcement, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) stated it would contest independently in five divisions of the Kollam Corporation, including Mulamkadakam and Thangassery. NCP election committee chairman Madathil Rajesh criticized the CPM and CPI for exhibiting an “authoritarian attitude” and denying the party its rightful seats.

The UDF is also grappling with its own share of internal friction. In the Corporation, the Forward Bloc has staked a claim to the Kureepuzha West division, leading to tensions as the current Congress constituency secretary has been nominated as the Forward Bloc candidate. In response, the Congress division committee declared Shanavas an independent candidate, even launching wall graffiti in his support.

Congress leader Bindhu Krishna remarked on the negotiations that failed to yield a satisfactory outcome, stating, “Unfortunately, the negotiations failed. We are still trying to appease the Congress division to come around.” Despite the challenges, she expressed optimism about the party’s candidate list, noting that Congress is contesting 38 out of 56 seats.

The UDF aims to convert its seats allocated to the RSP into electoral gains. In the previous Kollam Corporation elections, the RSP won four out of ten seats contested. This time, the party has been allocated 11 out of 56 seats, although concerns remain regarding the Thevally seat, which was won by the BJP in 2020. RSP leader NK Premachandran commented on the competitive landscape, suggesting that infighting within the LDF and BJP has narrowed the electoral contest.

As Kollam approaches the local body elections, the political landscape remains fraught with uncertainty, driven by resignations, rebel candidates, and factional disputes that could significantly impact the outcomes across various wards. The situation sets the stage for a highly contested election season as parties strive to maintain their foothold in the region.