5Qs with D Dhanuraj

1 Which political front do you think has a clear edge in Kerala in the April 26 polls — LDF, UDF, NDA?UDF has a clear edge. To counter BJP, voters, especially the minorities, think that Congress should have MPs in Parliament. Another factor is the anti-incumbency at the state level. Many want to use the election to send that message to the LDF leadership. The recent reports that Modi 3.0 is not yet a conclusion and the election is still open, help Congress. The two IUML candidates and Kerala Congress (Joseph) candidate in Kottayam will also benefit from the emerging scenario in Kerala.

2 How would you rate these five issues in descending order: A. Secularism. B. Corruption. C. Economic progress. D. National Security. C. Threat to free speech.
Secularism. Threat to free speech. Corruption. Economic Progress. National security

3 Do you think Congress practises ‘soft Hindutva’?
Of course, there is a discussion about ‘soft Hindutva’ practised by Congress among the voters in Kerala. Many are not happy with this but given the national scenario, the voters tend to give preference to Congress expecting a secular outlook if they come to power. The voters in Kerala are more likely to look at the number of seats Congress could win against BJP in the parliament and how that would help in countering BJP forces.

4 Do you think there is a ‘secret’ CPM-BJP or Pinarayi-Modi ‘nexus’ as widely rumoured?
Rumours can be verified only when the election results are out. Among the voters in some constituencies, this rumour is widely discussed. If there is a nexus, this would reflect in the election outcome in Kerala.

5 Do you think there is ‘political untouchability’ against BJP in Kerala and, if so, should it end?
Kerala politics is becoming very pragmatic. There are many undercurrents, and this election will again prove that BJP is no longer an untouchable party in Kerala. Since BJP is not in power and Kerala is away from north Indian politics, a good section of Kerala voters is at least in their private conversations, inclined to BJP as a party of development, decisive leadership, and alternative. More people in Kerala like Modi than the BJP, and they see him as a man of commitment who delivers public goods.

News Published in Times of India

Views expressed by the author are personal and need not reflect or represent the views of the Centre for Public Policy Research.