Kerala polls: BJP's clout may eat into Left vote base as minorities shield Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress views BJP as cutting into the Hindu vote base of both the ruling UDF and the Left bloc in Kerala but believes it is better placed to withstand the loss because of the support of the minority groups.

In what is being seen by Congress as a tough election owing to the history of Kerala not voting back the incumbent and recent allegations of corruption, an imponderable in BJP has raised expectations of a turnaround.

The election is seen as being close, with the Left bloc consolidating its base through aggressive campaigning.

But according to the feedback to the Congress leadership, BJP is attracting voters from both the principal blocs, especially the Ezhava section aligned with the Left. BJP has joined hands with community outfit SNDP to bait them. At the same time, BJP is also seen to hold appeal among some members of the Nair group aligned with Congress.

As Congress and the Left leak voters to the new claimant, sources said the former has the assured support of Christians and, to a large extent, Muslims. The backing of the two minorities positions it better to neutralise the saffron dent to its base.

A top functionary said the success of UDF in retaining Muslim and Christian parties in the coalition despite clashes in the run-up to the polls is helping in retaining the support of their home constituencies.

"We expect it to be a tight election but we are not out," the functionary said, indica ing that Congress hopes BJP would live up to its pre-poll hype about netting the Ezhavas.

As per the party inputs, Christians are sticking to the Congress bloc while there may be some drift towards he Left among Muslims. BJP not being a realistic claimant of power seems to be egging on the Muslims to experiment with local players.

Party strategists stressed hat UDF would have to ensure maximum consolidation among Muslims in its favour. "The support of minorities will be a must to not only neutralise the poten ial loss to BJP but also to overcome the challenge be ng posed by the aggressive Left," a functionary said.

Congress has been worried about dissension in its ranks, he differences between CM Oommen Chandy and top posthopeful Ramesh Chennithala becoming flashpoints at different junctures. The Kerala unit chief too has been an independent power centre.