BJP leaders at a rally in Kerala. The party says it expects to make significant gains this time.
In Kerala, elections are expected by April but the season of political campaigning has already begun. The Congress which heads the ruling UDF alliance was the first to launch pre-campaign political rallies earlier this month. The CPM and BJP have followed in quick succession, with political yatras of their own.
Days after the CPM started its yatra from Kerala's northernmost district, Kasargode on January 15, the CBI named its Kannur District Secretary P Jayarajan as an accused in the murder of a local RSS leader in 2014, leading to allegations by the Left party of a political witch-hunt. The RSS leader was an accused in an alleged attempt to murder Jayarajan in 1999.
"Chief Minister Oommen Chandy should not try and distract the public scrutiny on his party and himself by wrongly implicating CPM...his own party men speak of his corruption," Pinarayi Vijayan, CPM State Secretary told media.
With a new state president, Kummanam Rajashekharan, and RSS leaders on board as poll managers, the BJP is focusing on the consolidation of Hindu votes and uniting the backward castes, traditionally seen as Left supporters. The aim is to go beyond just opening the BJP's account. The party is in continuous talks with the newly formed political party of the backward Ezhava community.
Mr Rajashekharan told NDTV, "We made an increase of 15 per cent vote share in the local body elections...There are so many organsiations and people who are willing to support BJP against LDF and UDF...We are sure to have many MLAs this time."
The Congress has pegged its campaign on the new liquor policy, and a fight against other social evils. But, there are allegations of corruption against the government. The chief minister's close aide was arrested in the Solar scam and there are bribery allegations against ministers by bar owners.
"None of the allegations against government have been proved and people can see the truth. We will come back to power," VM Sudheeran, state Congress president told NDTV. He said the BJP may have made gains but it will not win any seats and the CPM has infighting.