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Kundara witnesses veteran Baby's electoral baptism
His name may evoke chuckles among those unfamiliar with the names in Kerala where many families have their children named Baby or its Malayalam versions like Kutty or Kunju. But when it comes to political stature, M.A. Baby of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) is no baby.
- By Akhel Mathew, Correspondent
- Published: 23:32 May 3, 2009
Kundara: His name may evoke chuckles among those unfamiliar with the names in Kerala where many families have their children named Baby or its Malayalam versions like Kutty or Kunju. But when it comes to political stature, M.A. Baby of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) is no baby.
However, there is one drawback if it can be called so for veteran leader Baby's standing in the political firmament, namely that he has never faced an electoral battle for an assembly seat. This time, when he faces such a challenge in Kundara, it will be a first for Baby.
Baby faces a strong opponent here in the form of Congressman Kadavoor Sivadasan, a former electricity minister in the A.K. Antony government, and formerly identified with the Karunakaran faction in the Congress.
This constituency is known to alternate between the United Democratic Front and the Left Democratic Front in its choice, except for one occasion in the 1970s when Congressman A.A. Rahim was elected twice consecutively from here.
Kadavoor Sivadasan is the sitting MLA and Kundara is not known for re-electing sitting MLAs except for that odd occasion.
But when the two fronts are fielding such senior leaders as Sivadasan and Baby, predictions are difficult.
Both Sivadasan and Baby are known to be articulate and acerbic and the constituency has been feeling the heat of the battle worsening the summer heat at its peak in this southern Kerala town.
Baby, who is a CPM central committee member, is perceived to have taken an early lead in the campaign, with opposition leader V.S. Achuthanandan inaugurating his campaign in the presence of a large crowd.
Congress leaders like chief minister Oommen Chandy and the party's Kerala chief Ramesh Chennithala have done their bit in support for Sivadasan.
The contest, however, is being keenly watched because it is Baby's debut contest in electoral politics. Baby had shot into the limelight leading protests during the Emergency days in the mid-1970s.
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