Shashi Tharoor and Rajeev Chandrasekhar Face Off for Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha Seat

Former Union Minister and Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat, Shashi Tharoor has a strong hold in the constituency, having won thrice in the past. His notable victory in 2019 saw him securing over four lakh votes.

However, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, who reported a substantial drop in his taxable income for the 2021/22 financial year, faces controversy over his poll affidavit. Despite this, he remains confident in his ability to win the state, which tends to view the BJP’s politics unfavorably.

Tharoor has expressed confidence in his chances and downplayed the BJP’s prospects, stating that they should not expect to win any seats in the state. Meanwhile, the BJP candidate, Mr. Chandrasekhar, has emphasized that the “politics of performance” will give him an edge in the election.

The upcoming contest in Thiruvananthapuram features a diverse range of candidates including Tharoor, the BJP’s candidate, and the Communist Party of India’s Pannyan Raveendran. Raveendran, a 78-year-old veteran, brings a distinct background and political ideology to the race.

His nomination by the CPI, a party traditionally aligned with the Congress-led INDIA opposition bloc, has raised eyebrows. Aside from Thiruvananthapuram, other constituencies in Kerala such as Wayanad also feature INDIA vs INDIA contests, highlighting the complex political dynamics in the state.

The communist parties are facing challenges to their traditional base, with a decline in their vote share over recent elections. The BJP sees an opportunity to capitalize on these shifts and aims to make inroads in Kerala, a state where it historically has had limited success.

For the BJP, winning seats in Kerala is a part of its larger strategy to expand its presence beyond its traditional strongholds. It seeks to make significant gains in all states, even those historically less favorable to the party, like Kerala and neighboring Tamil Nadu.

These states together offer 59 Lok Sabha seats, presenting a crucial battleground for the party’s electoral ambitions. Overall, the upcoming Lok Sabha election in Kerala presents a complex and competitive political landscape, with parties vying for influence and seeking to capitalize on shifting voter sentiments and alliances.