Kerala polls: Comrade against comrade

KOCHI: The people of Ambalapuzha assembly constituency are calling it a rare political battle—a comrade versus a former comrade. LDF has fielded CPM incumbent H Salam. Contesting against him is G Sudhakaran, once central to CPM's rise, who has walked away from the party disillusioned, only to find backing from UDF, the very political force he long criticized. The result is a deeply personal, politically layered showdown, where past loyalties clash with present alignments. Both candidates grew within the same ideological fold and know each other's strengths and weaknesses intimately."It's an interesting fight. CPM is furious over what it calls a betrayal and LDF grassroots workers are doubling down to ensure a party victory. Meanwhile, Sudhakaran is not only holding public meetings but quietly connecting with voters on a personal level. BJP votes will likely split between both candidates," said local resident Sangeetha Mahesh. Ambalapuzha has historically been a strong LDF bastion, with the front winning more than 75% of elections here. Sudhakaran himself won three terms on a CPM ticket. But ahead of the last election, the party sidelined him in favour of Salam, who went on to win. Salam subsequently accused Sudhakaran of working against him. A party inquiry found Sudhakaran guilty and the man who had been SFI's first state president when it was founded in 1970 was demoted to branch level and gradually sidelined. Voters across party lines are aware of this history and many sympathize with him. "Sudhakaran is a good leader. People here like him," said fisherman Vishnu Kumar. Yet when Sudhakaran chose to contest as an independent, many voters were unsettled, questioning whether he was simply hungry for power. However, CM Pinarayi Vijayan's recent ‘chettatharam' remark, dismissing a fellow comrade of 63 years, has not gone down well locally. Many now feel Sudhakaran did not deserve such treatment from a party he helped build. His critics, however, remain troubled by his acceptance of UDF support, the same party he always blamed, including holding responsible for his brother's death.Some UDF voters, like Gopalakrishnan E N, openly admit it is unfortunate that Congress could not field a strong candidate and instead chose to back a former comrade. Yet he says he will still vote for Sudhakaran as directed by the party, hoping it will help bring Congress back to power. "Regardless of party alliances, he has good personal relations with everyone," he said.The constituency's demographic fabric adds another layer of complexity. Hindus form the majority, followed by around 20% Christians and 10% Muslims. Within the Hindu population, Ezhavas are the dominant group, while Nairs play a smaller but influential role. Ezhava voters and the coastal working class have traditionally formed the backbone of LDF support, driven by trade union networks and welfare policies. Nair votes tend to fluctuate between fronts, often acting as a swing factor. The Christian vote is split between UDF and LDF depending on the candidate. Muslims, with around 35,000 votes, include approximately 9,000 aligned with SDPI, which some sources link to Salam, though LDF supporters deny this.BJP-led NDA has fielded Arun Anirudhan. Though a fringe player, party has made inroads in the local election wins near the Ambalappuzha Krishna temple. SDPI and BJP votes could prove decisive.Vimal Raj, a Gulf returnee and shop owner, credits the party over the person: "Under Pinarayi Vijayan, LDF has driven development across both the state and this constituency. From G Sudhakaran to H Salam, the progress we see isn't just an individual achievement, it is the manifestation of the party's collective vision."Though the CPM publicly insists Sudhakaran will not significantly dent their vote share, ground realities suggest otherwise. Sudhakaran knows supporters by name, a personal bond built over decades that has only deepened during his five years outside power. The communist party has long maintained that its strength lies in collective structure, not individuals. This election will truly put that belief to the test.