Kerala is unusual in having strong minority religious poles and an 'atheist' Left pole. West Bengal had a strong Left govt but politics there has changed. Left rule was thrown asunder, and dissatisfied supporters shifted to one of two religious poles. Congress and TMC are the minorities pole and BJP is the smaller other. According to the article, Kerala will have a different fall-out. Why does Left stay firm in Kerala, and Congress get squeezed?
Left "came to power on the promise of setting everything right only ten months back," but the reality is that "Left under CPM’s Pinarayi Vijayan, is undoing itself daily," and Congress is a silent observer. On the emotive issue of removing encroachments, there is dissent within Left and Congress. These 'dissidents' are on the same page as the vocal BJP.
Congress had lost some Hindu support in the assembly elections. This may just be election churn. On the other hand, BJP which is bent on unifying Hindus may be close to reaching critical mass. It needs not only disaffected Hindus but a shift in loyalties among opposition ranks, and if possible add Christians and the 'atheist' Left!!
"Congress is nowhere in the scene," states the writer. BJP is looking to poach opposition leaders to quickly build its strength. There is an undercurrent among Congress workers that there is not much of a difference between the two parties, ... that it does not matter if ...[a few leaders].. go across to the BJP. But once the dam bursts there may be no stopping an exodus."
BJP's Kerala game plan may cost Congress dearly
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