Two parties, RSP and DKC, decimated in Kerala
RSP’s lone minister in the United Democratic Front cabinet, Shibu Baby John was defeated in Chavara
Thiruvananthapuram: While Kerala’s Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) sat down to analyse the causes for its defeat, there were two parties too shell-shocked to even come to terms with the knockout punches they received.
The once-legendary Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) with its stronghold in Kollam district and the newly formed Democratic Kerala Congress (DKC) were decimated, with all candidates of both parties biting the dust.
RSP’s fall was particularly humiliating. Its lone minister in the UDF cabinet, Shibu Baby John was defeated in Chavara, where his father, Baby John, had ruled for decades, and the party’s state secretary, A. Aziz was defeated in Eravipuram.
In the two other constituencies where it contested, Ullas Kovoor lost in Kunnathur and M.T. Mohammad Nahas lost in Kaipamangalam.
Embarrassingly for the RSP, Kovoor was defeated by Kovoor Kunjumon, who had left the RSP and contested against the party’s candidate.
While RSP came to nought after years of existence in Kerala politics, the new DKC, which splintered from the Kerala Congress (M) just before the election, ended up losing in all constituencies it contested. Francis George lost in Idukki, Antony Raju in Thiruvananthapuram, K.C. Joseph lost in Changanacherry, and P.C. Joseph lost in Poonjar.
In contrast, the other leader who deserted the Kerala Congress (M) ahead of the election, P.C. George, handsomely won in Poonjar.
