Thiruvambady, not new to controversies, has always found a place in the history of Kerala politics. Long back, a face-off between headload workers and traders had shaken the Ministry itself.
The Assembly segment this time is in the news as the Congress-led UDF offered the seat to the IUML. The Thamarassery diocese-backed Malayora Vikasana Samithi wants the Congress to contest the seat, as the pressure group of farmers felt that only a local candidate could understand and find solution to their problems.
Now the battle lines have been drawn with the CPI(M) nominating its candidate George M. Thomas, who had earlier won from the constituency but lost last time to C. Moinkutty of the IUML. Sitting legislator from neighbouring Koduvally U.M. Ummer is the IUML’s nominee.
The delimitation in 2011 has changed the contours of the Assembly segment, but not the politics of the settler farmers.
Most of the farmers belonged to the Catholic faith; nevertheless, Hindus and Muslims also form a sizeable proportion of the population spread over Mukkom municipality and six grama panchayats.
Thiruvambady has been a traditional seat of the Congress party.
Congress candidates Cyraic John and P.P. George had won from here from 1977 to 1987. A.V. Abdurahiman Haji of the IUML represented the segment in 1991 and 1996. CPI(M)’s Mathai Chacko had won in 2006. After his death, the CPI(M) retained the seat when its nominee Mr. Thomas won.
In the 2015 Lok Sabha polls, Congress candidate M.I. Shanavas's margin was reduced to 2,300 votes and in the local body polls, the LDF secured a lead of 4,900 votes here.
