Minority votes hold the key in Nemom

V Sivankutty can be persuasive without resorting to antics or raising his voice.
“Have you read the Constitution? If you haven't, you should.I never did anything against it or the spirit of democracy when I protested against K M Mani in the assembly ,“ he said calmly to disprove the criticism raised by a senior citizen during his door-to-door campaign at Poojappura in Nemom.
A CPM worker, who was accompanying the candidate, felt that the MLA wasted 15 minutes talking to a man, who was not a registered voter in the area. But the candidate didn't feel so. Sivankutty, who is seeking a second term from Nemom, reacts to anything and everything that comes his way and it has made him popular in the capital.
“People will not allow the BJP to spoil the peace and freedom. I'm confident of taking on the BJP. Surendran Pillai is doing some legwork, but minorities and the Nair community will support us,“ said Sivankutty , who is busy campaign despite a fractured leg.

But his confidence hasn't shaken the faith of veteran BJP leader O Rajagopal and his well-oiled election machinery . “Tarring a road or two, or buying a school bus using the MLA fund cannot be termed as developmental initiatives. We are sure that even cross voting by the UDF and the LDF (against the BJP) won't work this time. Minorities know that the hate campaign against Modi is hollow and they will vote for us.There is no truth in the argument that the SNDP Yogam -BJP alliance will distance the Nair community from the NDA,“ said Rajagopal, who is concentrating on corner meetings.
In between meetings at Vellar near Kovalam, the veteran rubbished the claims made by his opponents. “The fight is only between the BJP and others,“ he said.
But, even amid the elation over Rajagopal's candidature and the gains made by the party in the recently-concluded local body poll, the BJP camp did not sound confident.“We need minority votes. If UDF and LDF stand united against the BJP , it would be a tight finish,“ said campaign workers. Both Fronts don't view Janata Dal (U) candidate V Surendran Pillai as a `dark horse'.They felt that the votes in favour of Pillai would eat into the vote share of the other.
But Pillai ­ who recently moved to the UDF from the LDF camp ­ is sure of wining the contest. “Sivankutty has become unpopular and people are bored of Rajagopal. I know how the LDF machinery thinks and works. I am confident about the minority support for UDF. The Nair community will support me as they feel a victory for Rajagopal would mean a victory for SNDP Yogam,“ Pillai said during a campaign in Nedumkad.
Minority votes, especially Muslims, would decide who will emerge victorious here. While the UDF and LDF are trying to net them, BJP is hopeful of splitting these votes. The attitude of Nair community will be another factor that will affect the final result.