Where electoral fortunes swing both ways

The political fortunes of the Left Democratic Front and the United Democratic Front (UDF) have fluctuated almost equally at Perumbavoor for long.

The constituency has shown a Left leaning of late when Saju Paul emerged victorious thrice in the elections held in 2001, 2006 and 2011. Congress leader P.P. Thankachan had a long stint here when he won in 1982, 1987, 1991 and 1996. Mr. Paul ended Mr. Thankachan’s winning streak in 2001 by establishing a lead of 1,188 votes.

He improved his lead to 12,461 in 2006 by defeating UDF’s Shanimol Usman. In 2011, he defeated Jaison Joseph of the Congress by a margin of 3,382 votes.

The CPI(M) has fielded Mr. Paul again and the UDF camp has zeroed in on Eldhose Kunnappilly, former president of the Ernakulam district panchayat.

E.S. Biju, State general secretary of Hindu Aikyavedhi, is the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate.