Thiruvananthapuram

Senior CPI(M) leader V Sivankutty on Monday dismissed the BJP’s prospects in the Nemom constituency, asserting that its claims of reclaiming the seat in the upcoming Assembly elections are “nothing but hollow rhetoric.”

Sivankutty, who regained Nemom for the Left in 2021 and ended the BJP’s lone presence in the Kerala Assembly, expressed confidence that the party would retain the seat in the April 9 polls. He is once again contesting from the constituency as the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate.

“The BJP’s account in Nemom has already been closed, and it will remain so,” he said in an interview, adding that while every candidate has the right to be optimistic, the LDF’s performance and governance record give it a clear edge.

The BJP has fielded its state chief and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar for the seat, while the Congress has nominated K Sabarinathan. However, Sivankutty maintained that neither opponent poses a serious challenge.

Highlighting the basis of his campaign, Sivankutty pointed to the state government’s administrative track record and the development work carried out in Nemom during his tenure as MLA and minister. He said his candidature was a collective decision by the party, based on winnability and performance.

Taking aim at Chandrasekhar, he questioned the latter’s contributions to Kerala during his tenure as Union Minister of State for Skill Development. In contrast, Sivankutty highlighted initiatives undertaken by the state government in the same sector, including simplified systems for vocational training and decentralised programmes through local bodies.

He also cited steps such as securing a recruitment licence for the Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE), partnerships with international institutions, and major investments aimed at strengthening the state’s startup ecosystem.

Rejecting suggestions of a close three-way contest, Sivankutty said the Congress remains in a distant third position in Nemom, as seen in previous elections, and predicted a tough outcome for its candidate.

On other issues, including controversies like the Sabarimala gold loss row and the presence of rebel candidates, he said these would not affect the LDF’s electoral prospects. According to him, the alliance remains stable and continues to enjoy strong public support.

Sivankutty also highlighted development works worth around ₹900 crore undertaken in the constituency over the past five years, saying these projects reflect the government’s commitment to transforming Nemom into a model constituency.

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The Kerala Assembly has a total of 140 seats, with polling scheduled for April 9.