PALAKKAD: The dynamic campaign finale known as ‘Kottikalasham’ for the Palakkad constituency by-election wrapped up on Monday evening, signaling a shift in the political landscape of the state.
Kerala is witnessing unprecedented political migration during this bypoll. According to a senior CPM leader, “Parties are now solely focused on securing victory, contrasting sharply with two decades ago when they held firm to ideologies and political bases even during elections. Now, everything is subordinate to the pursuit of votes.” Although supportive of Dr. P Sarin’s candidacy, the leader expressed concerns regarding its potential impact.
In a notable development, Dr. Sarin, who previously led social media campaigns for Congress, switched allegiances to join CPM as their candidate. Meanwhile, former BJP state leader Sandeep G Varier’s defection to Congress, abandoning his RSS principles, took both the BJP and CPM by surprise.
The political shifts continued as Abdul Shukur, a member of the Palakkad CPM area committee, left the party over allegations of dictatorship. Conversely, Mahila Congress district secretary Krishnakumari joined CPM, ending her long-standing ties with her previous party. Additionally, YC leader A K Shanib resigned and subsequently voiced support for Sarin.
Political scientist Dr. J Prabhash, former pro vice-chancellor of Kerala University, remarked that “ideology holds little merit in Kerala politics today. All parties are seeking short-term gains. This emerging trend of political migration for power is a concerning issue that needs addressing. While leadership changes have been common in the past, the rise of BJP in Kerala has presented more choices, suggesting that this trend is likely to continue. Ultimately, power supersedes ideology.”
Veteran journalist Sreekumar N highlighted a lack of substantive political discourse, questioning, “Did any party outline their political positions on significant issues or announce key projects for the constituency? Instead, they focused on creating trends and enhancing their social media outreach.”
C P John, a CMP leader and former Planning Board member, commented on the encroachment of social media into the political sphere, noting that even major parties are compelled to adapt their strategies accordingly.
