Muhammed Muhsin’s involvement in the students’ stir at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is learnt to have prompted the CPI to field him as the party’s candidate in Pattambi.
The research scholar worked with Kanhaiya Kumar in AISF—CPI’s student outfit—and is vice-president of AISF’s JNU unit. He is taking on sitting MLA of the Congress C P Mohammed who has retained the seat since 2001. The candidate has moved on beyond the JNU introduction and promises a tough, ideological fight. He spoke to R Krishnakumar of DH:
What are Pattambi’s voters telling you?
I’ve completed my third round of campaigning. We see a clear shift in the people’s attitude. They are looking for a change.
Your rival candidate has had a long, successful run here. What’s the one critical issue you are raising to effect a change?
I don’t have to raise issues. People are doing it themselves when we approach them. We have 2 rivers in this constituency but non-availability of drinking water continues to be a major issue. Senior citizens complain that even their meagre pensions are not reaching them on time.
The BJP is claiming to have put together a political alternative in Kerala for perhaps the first time.
I don’t think the BJP will make significant gains in this election though there are signs of the Congress facilitating an easy run for BJP in some segments.
How important is the BJP challenge in this election, coming in the wake of recent debates around freedom of expression?
It’s disturbing to see the Congress and the BJP speaking almost the same language here. In my constituency, the BJP is on a low-key campaign; there could be a backdoor alliance. But such informal alliances won’t be enough for the BJP to make a real start.
Kanhaiya Kumar was expected to be in Pattambi to join your campaign.
Since Kanhaiya and others are on an indefinite hunger strike at JNU, his campaigning for me will depend on the agitation and his health.
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