A dramatic U-turn by Kerala's General Education Minister V Sivankutty regarding his candidature for the upcoming assembly elections sent political circles into a tizzy on Monday. The sitting MLA from the high-profile Nemom constituency first stated he would not seek re-election, only to retract the claim within hours, attributing the confusion to a misinterpretation of his words.
Morning Statement and Swift Clarification
The episode began around 8:30 am at the Ramanilayam government guest house in Thrissur. During an interaction with journalists, Minister V Sivankutty reportedly indicated that he would not be contesting from the Nemom constituency this time. Given Nemom's history as a fiercely contested seat, this announcement immediately created shockwaves.
However, by 10:00 am, the minister issued a clarification, performing a complete reversal. He asserted that his earlier remarks had been misunderstood and that no definitive statement about stepping down had been made. "I only meant that the party would decide on my candidacy," Sivankutty explained.
A History of Prestige and Battle
The minister reminded everyone of his electoral record in Nemom, underscoring why his initial statement caused such a stir. "I have contested from Nemom thrice. I won twice, defeating BJP leaders O Rajagopal and Kummanam Rajasekharan and lost once," he said. The constituency holds immense symbolic value. In 2016, Nemom made history by becoming the first and only seat won by the BJP in the Kerala legislative assembly.
Sivankutty's victory in the 2021 elections was, therefore, a significant reclaiming of territory for the Left Democratic Front (LDF). Any suggestion of him vacating the seat naturally leads to speculation about the CPM's confidence and the BJP's chances of a comeback in this high-voltage political arena.
Party Supremacy and Alleged Mischief
In his clarification, Sivankutty emphasized the collective decision-making process of his cadre-based party, the CPI(M). He firmly stated, "The party decides the candidates," highlighting that individual wishes are secondary. He further suggested that the reports of his withdrawal were not merely a misunderstanding but possibly a 'deliberate attempt' by certain factions to sow confusion among voters and party workers.
"I don't know why my statement was misinterpreted. I watched it again and didn't find anything wrong with it. I think there was some confusion. I only meant that the party and LDF state committees would decide the party's candidates," the minister added, seeking to put the matter to rest.
This incident, occurring as Kerala assembly elections inch closer, underscores the intense scrutiny and political maneuvering surrounding key battleground seats like Nemom. All eyes will now be on the formal candidate announcements by the LDF and the strategies of rival parties in this politically sensitive constituency.
