Though the Pattambi constituency remained a Left citadel right from the beginning, it has been represented in the last 15 years in the Assembly by Congress leader C.P. Mohammed. This trusted lieutenant of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is seeking people’s mandate for another round. But the LDF constituent CPI has greater hopes this time to recapture the constituency, represented once by stalwarts such as E.P. Gopalan and E.M.S. Namboodiripad.
While Gopalan won the constituency in the 1957 election, EMS won once as candidate of the then undivided Communist party and thrice later as CPI(M) candidate. With the CPI choosing JNU student leader Mohammed Mohsin as its candidate in Pattambi, the LDF is able to create an impression that the tide would turn in its favour this time.
According to CPI leaders’ own admission, weaker candidates chosen in the past by the LDF had caused the Congress victory. CPI leader K.E. Ismail was forced to withdraw from contesting because of the prevailing schism in the party. Mr. Ismail contested six times but won only three times.
Hopes hinge on Muslim votes
The stunning performance of the LDF in the last Assembly election is also giving hopes to Mr. Mohsin, who is expected to attract a large number of Muslim votes. The BJP has a very negligible presence in the constituency. Delimitation also would have a positive impact in the constituency.
