The decisive and historical victory of Mani C Kappen in the 2019 Assembly by-election in Pala was not an unexpected or surprising one. It was anticipated by most of the people who were witnessing the dirty political developments in the Pala constituency and in the Kerala Congress (M) party before, during and after the polling. Even though his vote lead of 2943, over his rival is not a big thing in number, his victory in a constitution considered as a bastion of the Kerala Congress and held by its founder chairman K M Mani for the past 54 years since the formation of the assembly constituency is really tremendous.
The victory of Mani C Kappan who is a leader of NCP and a coalition partner in the ruling left democratic front has begun a new debate in the state connecting Pala election triumph with the LDf government's performance. According to the people's popular opinion, the victory of Mani C Kappan is not a referendum for the policies and the functioning of the three-years-and-four-months-old Pinarayi Vijayan led LDF government in Kerala, as some party leaders sailing in the LDF ship and the left sympathisers claim. There are several other crucial factors that led to the victory of Mani C Kappen as the MLA in Pala.
Here are some of the reasons that helped him to get an easy win over his opponent, the UDF's Jose Tom:
1. The infighting in the Kerala Congress (M) party leadership for the chairman's post and the disunity among its cadre is considered as the primary reason for the failure of the UDF candidate.
2. Most people feel that it is Jose K Mani's pride and prejudice that resulted in the divide in the KC (M) party and the shameful defeat of the UDF in its strong-hold.
3. Mani C Kappen is a popular and vibrant candidate in Kerala both as a social activist and as a film producer, actor and director. Whereas Jose Tom, though a veteran leader, was not known even to many people in the other areas of the constituency. So the selection of the candidate was not proper. There is a wrong feeling in the Congress and UDF leadership that people will vote anyone whomever they field as a candidate...!
4. The regular mudslinging activity between the leaders of the UDF and the groupism within the Congress party all have contributed considerably to the failure of their candidate in this just concluded election.
5 The early announcement of the candidate by the LDF and the systematic and collective work of the party-men. But the UDF could announce the name of the candidate very late without coming to a consensus.
Here is the number of votes secured by the candidates:
1. Mani C Kappan (LDF) - 54,137 (won with a lead of 2943 votes)
2. Jose Tom (UDF) - 51,194
3. N Hari (NDA) - 18,044
The voters of Pala thus sends a message that in the place of K M Mani, they will not place anyone else but C K Mani and elected him as their representative...!
