Elections 2024: Kerala prepares for a straight fight between Left and Congress

Following the Election Commission of India’s declaration of dates for the Lok Sabha polls, Kerala’s major political factions aligned under the UDF or LDF, led by either Congress or Left parties, have initiated strategic maneuvers to secure the highest number of seats.

Kerala is slated for polling on April 26, with the deadline for nominations set for April 4. Scrutiny of nominations will occur on April 5, while the last date for withdrawal is April 8.

In the previous 2019 general elections, the Congress-led UDF clinched 19 seats, while the CPI(M)-led Left secured one. State Congress President, and incumbent Lok Sabha member from Kannur, expressed confidence in the UDF’s victory.

State CPI(M) secretary M. V. Govindan said the Left is already working hard in the field. “Our aim is to win all the 20 seats and we are ready for it. The fight in Kerala is between the Left and the Congress-led UDF. The BJP will not be able to open its account here,” said M. V. Govindan.

CPI(M)-led Left convener E. P. Jayarajan said people are “just gearing to vote for all the Left candidates as they know only if the Left candidates reach Delhi will, it be good for the state.”

Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan of Congress said there is no doubt, they will win all the 20 seats. “People are just waiting to express their ire against the Pinarayi Vijayan government for his “inept” governance as life has become really tough. We will explain this to the electorate,” said V. D. Satheesan.

Veteran IUML legislator P. K. Kunhalikutty said, “By now itself, a few poll predictions have come and it is hugely loaded in favour of the Congress-led UDF candidates and that is the reality.”

Three-time sitting Congress Lok Sabha member from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, said the only problem is the delay in counting of votes as from now, we have to wait for more than two and a half months to know the future of our country. “With regards to the election date, we do have adequate time from now till the counting date and things are looking very good,” said Shashi Tharoor.

Besides the dominant parties, the BJP will field Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Thiruvanathapuram constituency.

Both the CPI(M)-led Left and Congress-led UDF have finalized their candidates for the polls, with the enforcement of the model code of conduct following the announcement.