ALAPPUZHA: Saji Cherian's victory proved his ability to micromanage things and make himself more acceptable to communal leaders and his party knows it well. The shrewd politician started evolving after his debut electoral battle in 2006, in which he lost to UDF’s P.C. Vishnunath for 5,132 votes. He was then Chengannur area secretary of CPM, a post he held for eight long years since 2001. For the defeat to the novice, when the LDF rode to power with a brute majority, he had to face a lot of criticism.
The cadres blamed it on his unpopularity. Accepting criticism, he continued his work as the area secretary till he became district secretariat member in 2009. He started building a cordial relationship with communal leaders since he became the district secretary in 2014. It was his stepping stone micromanaging communal conundrum that the CPM badly needed to spin non-party votes.
He built the bridge to the church and SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan, who in the middle of the campaign said they would vote who helps them. He was acceptable to both SNDP and the Orthodox Church, and Sobhana George helped strengthen the relationship. His mentor G. Sudhakaran acted as a catalyst in winning his friend Mr Natesan's confidence. "His rise was phenomenal," says a CPM source.
"He became a troubleshooter for the party. His blind loyalty to Alappuzha strongman Mr Sudhakaran helped it in a big way." His palliative care initiatives in Christian-dominated areas brought the Church leaders closer. The Karuna Palliative Care Unit he heads is giving relief to 2,350 bedridden patients. An SNDP leader told DC during the height of the campaign that the Yogam had no qualms in voting a Christian candidate.
