One thing’s sure: The next Ernakulam MP will be Latin Catholic

KOCHI: In Ernakulam, the Lok Sabha constituency that is Kerala’s most industrially and commercially developed, what matters the most during candidate selection is religion , or rather the denomination.


Both Congress-led United Democratic Front and Left Front invariably select a Latin Christian to represent them in a constituency that also encompasses the state’s most cosmopolitan city, Kochi. Latin Catholics account for nearly 45% of the population in Ernakulam, while Christians overall constitute about 55%, according to the spokesman of the Latin Catholic Church in Kerala. And, Latin Catholics decide the outcome of elections.

The Congress has realised this the hard way. In 1967, the Congress fielded a candidate from outside the community. Enraged over this, Latin Catholics took to the streets against the party, and Left Front candidate A Viswanatha Menon had a surprise victory. The party has never repeated the mistake.

Sitting MP and Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution KV Thomas is the Congress nominee for the April 10 election. In 2009, he defeated Sindhu Joy of the CPM by about 11,000 votes.

Thomas, a native of Kumbalangi village in the suburb of Kochi, had represented the constituency three times before–– in 1984, 1989 and 1991. Traditionally, Ernakulam has been a safe seat for the Congress. Of the 15 elections for the seat since 1957, the Left parties have been able to win only once –– but independents supported by them have won a few times.

In the 2011 state assembly election, candidates of the Congress-led UDF have won six of the seven seats that form the Lok Sabha constituency.

In the Lok Sabha polls, the Latin Catholic Church in Kerala has asked its followers to vote according to their conscience, deciding not to support either the UDF or the Left. The clear loser is the Congress, which had enjoyed the support of the Church in the past.

Still, in a constituency where urban logistics and development are the main concerns, Thomas has been able to project himself as someone who has brought in large volume of investments into Ernakulam and its neighbouring areas. A 98-page colour booklet that he published before the election lists his achievements, which include the underconstruction Kochi metro. The main opponent of Thomas this time is bureaucratturned-politician Christy Fernandez. Though a native of Kollam, the 64-year-old has now settled down in Ernakulam.

A former secretary to the Indian President, Fernandez says he has the blessings of the Church in his new role as a politician. The CPM has been criticised for selecting a weak candidate against someone like Thomas. But speaking to ET, CPM leader MM Lawrence said Fernandez is a strong candidate in the constituency.

“He speaks extremely well and was quite a hit at the Meet the Candidate function,” Lawrence said. Fernandez would be mainly highlighting corruption and the sorry state of public sector units in the city. The BJP has named a wellknown state leader, AN Radhakrishnan , its candidate for Ernakulam. In 2004, Radhakrishan got 52,968 votes, or 5% of the total votes.