The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has nominated its district secretary, M.V. Balakrishnan, for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Kasaragod constituency, once a stronghold of the Left Democratic Front (LDF). In an interview with The Hindu, Mr. Balakrishnan expressed confidence in the party’s prospects to wrest back the seat surprisingly won by Congress leader Rajmohan Unnithan in the 2019 polls.
Despite being the LDF’s stronghold in five out of seven Assembly constituencies, the Congress–led United Democratic Front (UDF) emerged victorious in the last elections. How optimistic are you about overcoming the UDF this time?
I have already started meeting people, and there is a huge support for the LDF. People want the LDF back to represent them in Parliament. The political situation around the time of the last election turned against the LDF. The decision of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to contest from Wayanad and people’s expectation that he would become the Prime Minister helped the UDF garner votes. Besides, the Sabarimala issue and the twin murder of Congress workers in Periya turned the wind against the party.
