V S Sivakumar win big surprise in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram: Although public resentment with V S Sivakumar seemed to be running high, the former health minister sprang a surprise in Thiruvananthapuram, doubling his lead to 10,905 votes. Nonetheless, detailed booth-wise figures demonstrate that in a strong three-cornered fight, Sivakumar emerged winner by default.

Though he won handsomely, his vote share dropped from 45.9 percent in 2011 to 36.8 percent. However, the fall in the vote share of the LDF candidate, Antony Raju, looked operatically tragic; from 40.87 percent in 2011 it sunk to 28.2 percent. His loss was BJP’s gain. Sreesanth’s vote share rose to 27.5 percent, almost matching that of LDF, from 10.8 percent from 2011, when B K Sekhar was candidate.

Urban areas within the constituency - like Fort, Vanchiyoor, Jagathy, Kannettumukku, Pettah where BJP was only a nominal presence in 2011 – saw BJP leading in many wards. Sivakumar lost out in these places but held on. Antony Raju was routed, evidence that it was LDF votes that Sreesanth poached. Chalai, Melarannoor, Aryasala and Attakulangara – the city’s trading areas – witnessed a Sreesanth wave.

Sivakumar managed to retain his votes in wards just away from the coast like Kochuveli, Vettucaud, Palkulangara, Chackai, and Vallakkadavu. He has not improved on his tally in these areas. Eventually, what worked in his  favour was the virtual absence of BJP in coastal areas.

In Beemapally, Valiyathura and Poonthura, where Christian fisherfolk dominate and churches are the last word, it looked as if Sreesanth did not even try. In certain wards in Poonthura and Beemapally, the party could not even manage more than a single vote.

AIADMK’s Biju Ramesh fared considerably better. Both Sivakumar and Antony Raju scored big in these areas. It is Sreesanth’s miserable performance in these wards that allowed Antony Raju to scrape through to the second position.