Nagercoil: Will BJP make history by winning this TN seat?

The contest in this constituency bordering Kerala promises to be a political potboiler with BJP candidate Pon Radhakrishnan, who was a minister of state in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, giving a tough fight to DMK's Mahesh and Nanjil Murugesan of AIADMK. All three candidates belong to Hindu Nadar community.

DMK's S Retnaraj was the last Hindu MLA to be elected from this seat in 1984. From 1987 to 2006, the seat was represented by various Christian Nadars.

Hindu Nadars and Christian Nadars in this district have had a long rivalry and it still persists in despite the district having a high literacy rate. Religion has always been a factor in deciding lawmakers in this district.

BJP, which has a considerable presence in the southern-most Kanyakumari district, is hoping to romp home from this seat and it stems from the fact that the constituency has undergone a major overhaul in the delimitation process with many Hindu-dominated areas attached to it.

BJP would script history if it wins the seat as it would be the first time the party would enter the Assembly without being in alliance with any Dravidian party.

His 'Mr Clean' image and efforts he took to solve the problems of fishermen in the district when he was a minister could come handy for Radhakrishnan, but he needs the support of Christian Nadars and Muslims to enter the state Assembly.

Though Radhakrishnan has been wooing Christians and meeting members of the Nagercoil Diocese, it seems the church has not given any assurance. DMK leader and Union minister M K Alagiri had also met the bishop last week apparently to seek support for the DMK candidate. AIADMK is also understood to have sought the church's support.

The other two candidates also being Hindus is another problem for Radhakrishnan as the votes would get split. However, the former BJP MP is appealing to Christians and Muslims to vote for him as "he was not their enemy".

In 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Radhakrishnan polled more votes than DMK's Helen Davidson here, but he could only end up as second because Christians overwhelmingly voted in favour of the DMK.

BJP has a proper organizational structure in this district and Radhakrishnan is widely respected here. But, whether the respect would turn into votes is anybody's guess.

The church in this district has enormous influence among the Christians and locals say 90 per cent of the community members, especially women, just go by what the church says.

Locals say the church is unlikely to come out in the open and say that people could vote for the BJP candidate. They also say though Radhakrishnan could be accepted by Christians, his "party BJP won't be".

They also say that though the church never comes out in the open to tell the people on its preferences, it unofficially communicates to pastors its decision. In the past few decades, the church has been supporting the DMK.

People whom PTI spoke to said Radhakrishnan was racing ahead in the race because of his "humbleness and clean image".

"He is a nice man. He would have surely won if he had contested in any other party. BJP is simply not accepted to the people here," an auto driver, who wished not to be identified, said.

Another factor which could help Radhakrishnan is that the perceived split of Muslim votes. Locals say the Muslims have always been siding with the DMK, but with the newly-floated
Manitha Neya Makkal Katchi aligning with AIADMK, the votes could get split.

As far as other issues are concerned, people complain about the "bad condition" of roads in the entire Nagercoil area and the increasing traffic congestion. They also say that the condition of the highway connecting the town with Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram is "really bad" and steps have to be taken to improve the condition.

Locals are also hoping that the new MLA will try and improve infrastructure in the town.