It’s hazy in Pathanamthitta

It’s easy to gauge the way the electoral winds will blow in this central Travancore district, though the Left Democratic Front (LDF) may appear to have an early advantage from completing its candidates selection without a rumpus in the ranks.

On the contrary, there has been quite a bit of fuss and rancour over picking the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidates, especially in the Congress camp, more so over sharing of seats between the `A’ and ` I’ factions. After the fire-fighting gets over, the final list of Congress candidates will be firm only by the last date for withdrawal of nominations on October 17.

The much talked-about BJP-SNDP alliance seem to have taken a backseat in Pathanamthitta. The Nair-dominated BJP district leadership here has failed to work the alliance into the grassroots, precluding possibilities of an electoral advantage in the district that has many strong Yogam pockets. The RSS, which has a firm base in the district is likely to enter the campaign front soon, disturbing the poll prospects of both the major fronts in the changing political scenario.

Pathanamthitta has hitherto shown no special inclination to lean towards any front. In 2005, the LDF won a majority grama panchayats, block panchayats, and district panchayat. But it was different in 2010, when the UDF almost swept the local body polls here, bagging a majority in 39 of the 54 grama panchayats, 11 of the 17 district panchayat divisions, two of the three municipalities, and six of the eight block panchayats.

The BJP had bagged a total of 62 panchayat seats and six municipal wards. The LDF, curiously, ruled the Thiruvalla municipality with the backing of five BJP members.

This time, the Pandalam grama panchayat has been upgraded to a municipality, taking the total number of municipalities to four and reducing grama panchayats to 53. The district panchayat too lost its Pandalam division reducing its number of divisions to 16.

There is a belief gaining ground that the rotational terms fixed for the local body leadership has resulted in a serious lack of accountability in the functioning of many panchayats, especially those ruled by the UDF, and the Thiruvalla municipality. The centralised candidate selection process in the Congress party has also caused some heartburn among the party cadres, especially the youth.