Did resentment among pineapple farmers against real and perceived neglect of their lot by the erstwhile United Democratic Front (UDF) result in the defeat of Congress candidate Joseph Vazhakkan in Muvattupuzha in the just-concluded Assembly elections?
No, says Mr. Vazhakkan. “It is a lie that the UDF government neglected the pineapple farmers in the constituency. My defeat has nothing to do with pineapple farmers’ discontent,” he said on Friday highlighting the former government’s efforts to help farmers overcome problems like allegations of excessive use of chemicals.
Party politics to blame
He is backed by Jose Kalappura, president of the Pineapple Farmers’ Association, who said that the former UDF MLA lost the election not because of the farmers’ anger but because of certain party politics.
In fact, he claimed, pineapple farmers voted for Mr. Vazhakkan irrespective of their political affiliations.
‘UDF failed to deliver’
However, pineapple farmers like Baby John, former president of the Pineapple Farmers’ Association, claimed that farmers turned against the UDF government because it failed to help them. He pointed to the case of the Nadukkara agro processing unit, which did not procure fruits even when price collapsed.
He claimed that Mr. Vazhakkan failed to get the expected votes in predominantly pineapple-growing panchayats like Manjalloor, Kalloorkkad and Ayavana.
The sitting MLA of the Congress was defeated by first-timer Eldho Abraham of the Communist Party of India by more than 9,300 votes.
It is a lie. My defeat has nothing to do with pineapple farmers’ discontent.
Joseph Vazhakkan,
Former MLA
