Confirming that the upcoming Lok Sabha elections for Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram parliamentary seat will feature a competitive three-way contest, Congress leader and incumbent MP Shashi Tharoor expressed optimism for a fair and respectful electoral process.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar, while the Communist Party of India (CPI), part of the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), has put forward CPI leader Pannyan Raveendran, a former winner of the seat in 2005.
Despite the BJP’s historical inability to secure a Lok Sabha victory in Kerala, Tharoor, likely to represent the Congress once again, highlighted the need to take the ruling party at the center seriously, given its second-place finish in the previous two Lok Sabha elections.
Tharoor emphasized the significance of the three-way contest, recalling his victory over the Communist candidate in the previous election cycle. He underscored the importance of voters’ choices in determining their representation in Delhi.
“I am optimistic that the electoral contest will be conducted fairly and with dignity. Throughout my 15 years in politics, I have never found it necessary to attack my opponents. I welcome all challengers and trust that the electorate will choose their representative for Delhi,” Tharoor stated.
Meanwhile, BJP candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar criticized both the Congress and the Left, alleging their failure to address the needs of the youth. He underscored the need for change and development in Kerala, particularly for its youth and women.
Shashi Tharoor, a senior Congress leader and former Union minister, has represented the Thiruvananthapuram seat since 2009 and is expected to be nominated by the Congress for his fourth consecutive bid.
The BJP has yet to secure a Lok Sabha victory in Kerala, having won only once in the Assembly polls in 2016. However, Chandrasekhar’s entry into the fray has transformed the electoral landscape into a three-way competition, setting the stage for a closely watched battle in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls scheduled for April-May this year.