RaGa Wayanad

Rahul Gandhi바카라�s decision to contest from Kerala바카라�s Wayanad has opened up a whole thick rainforest of deba­tes. The ruling Left called it a 바카라�pernicious move바카라� to scuttle opposition unity. Waya­nad바카라�s demographics 바카라�non-Hindu votes outnumber Hindu votes바카라�also allowed PM Modi to talk 바카라�minority appeasem­ent바카라� again. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is a key Congress ally here. The SDPI, often criticised for its extreme views, is also on the horizon. In the melee of big themes, however, the finer detail went missing.

Locally, it바카라�s an open secret that RaGa바카라�s name popped up as a byproduct of the factional feud between the Congress바카라�s (I) and (A) groups, legatees of the old Karunakaran-Antony camps. Led by ex-CM Oommen Chandy, (A) wallahs had got their original man for Way­anad, T. Siddique, approved by the high command바카라�he바카라�d even started campaigning. That바카라�s when the (I) group, led by Ram­esh Chennithala, came up with this bright idea to spite their rivals. It took much backroom drama in the capital바카라�where P.C. Chacko was against the idea바카라�before it fructified. A temporary truce is at hand, with all claiming credit for Rahul바카라�s entry. That바카라�s besides unsettling the LDF바카라�s plans  to bag the seat by fielding young CPI firebrand P.P. Suneer.

As for the BJP, despite its modest presence (6.46 per cent voteshare in 2014, double the previous time), its candidate has a buzz about him that will play out elsewhere. Tushar Vellappally is the son of Vellappally Natesan, most prominent face of Kerala­바카라�s biggest OBC group바카라�the Ezhavas. Natesan is boss of the non-pol­itical outfit SNDP Yogam, which has backed the Left Front of late, while Tushar heads the BDJS, a new entrant on the landscape and a strong NDA ally. During the Sabarimala agitation, Nate­san backed the ruling LDF바카라�s pro-women바카라�s-entry stand, and Tushar was at the forefront of agitations opposing it!

People are never too sure about Nate­san바카라�s wavering loyalties either. 바카라�They try to appeal to both the Left as well as the BJP. It바카라�s wishy-washy,바카라� says ana­lyst Prof J. Prabhash. That the BJP has chosen the young BDJS chief to contest against Rahul is significant: it clearly values the pro-Ezhava symbolism as it tries to emerge as a third force in Kerala바카라�s ­traditionally bipolar politics.