While the Hindu Nadar votes in the Kanniyakumari Parliamentary constituency are expected to get split between the two principal candidates – Pon Radhakrishnan of the BJP and H. Vasanthakumar of the Congress – the introduction of 10% quota in government jobs and college admissions for the economically weaker sections in the general category may get Mr. Radhakrishnan the backing of Nair and Vellala voters.
“Mr. Radhakrishnan won in 2014 because he had the support of the Nair community, which has 2.72 lakh voters. Unlike many other communities, the Nairs are Hindus, and not even a fraction of them follow other religions. But a decision on whether to support Mr. Radhakrishnan will be taken by the executive committee of our organisation,” said V. Srikumaran Nair, president, Nair Service Society (NSS), Kanniyakumari district.
The Nair population is substantial in two taluks — Kalkulam and Vilavancode — traditionally dominated by the Congress and the Communist parties before the emergence of the BJP in the district.
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Though socially a forward community, many Nairs were “economically downtrodden” and had a “soft corner” for the BJP because of the quota move, even though the community has had affiliations with the Congress and the Communist parties in the past, Mr. Srikumaran said.
Likewise, when the 10% quota was announced, Vellala settlements, traditionally known as Vadamathi — the northern part of the district — put up posters and vinyl boards hailing the BJP government. Residents cutting across party lines appreciated the announcement.
“This time, I would vote for the BJP even if it had not entered into an alliance with the AIADMK,” said V. Lakshmanan Pillai, secretary of the AIADMK unit in Puthery near Nagercoil.
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The two communities are upset with the DMK because it went to court to challenge the quota. Some DMK functionaries conceded that they were having a tough time explaining the background of the issue to the locals.
“In our campaign, we are telling the voters that the Congress supported the move in Parliament. We are also trying to make the people understand that only the announcement [on the quota] has been made, and concrete steps have not been taken to implement it,” contended former DMK Minister N. Suresh Rajan.
A. Kolappan, secretary, BJP (IT and Social Media Wing), who incidentally hails from Boothapandi — the birth place of communist leader Jeevanandham — said he could see the massive support among the Vellalas for his party during his campaign.
“Of course they have voted for the BJP in the past. But now, more and more voters are extending support to the BJP,” he claimed.
The presence of AMMK candidate Lakshmanan, a Vellala, could pose a slight challenge to Mr. Radhakrishnan in consolidating the community’s votes.
Swell in support
While voting for national parties in Parliamentary elections is nothing new to the district, Mr. Rajan conceded that support for the BJP was growing in the Nagercoil and Kanniyakumari Assembly constituencies, but remained confident of a Congress victory.
“All six Assembly segments falling under the Kanniyakumari Parliamentary constituency are represented by the DMK and the Congress. Mr. Vasanthakumar will lead by around 1.25 lakh votes in the three constituencies in the western region and poll another 5,000 votes in Colachel. But the vote share will come down in Nagercoil and Kanniyakumari Assembly constituencies,” he said.