Image Credits - Times of India
The high-profile Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat has witnessed a see-saw battle with Congress veteran Shashi Tharoor regaining a slender lead over BJP’s Rajeev Chandrasekhar after trailing initially.
As per the latest trends, Tharoor has established a narrow lead of around 3,000 votes over his former cabinet colleague Chandrasekhar. The two have been locked in a neck-and-neck fight right from the start of counting.
Tharoor, who has represented the capital constituency twice before, had fallen behind in the preliminary rounds before making a strong comeback in the urban polling booths.
Both candidates put up an intense campaign with Chandrasekhar, a central minister, attempting to breach this Congress bastion by questioning Tharoor’s “elite” background and lack of development work.
Tharoor highlighted his initiatives in areas like education, infrastructure and environment while trying to turn his erudite image into an asset by positioning himself as a progressive voice.
The seesaw nature of the counting reflects the larger trends in Kerala where both the Congress-led UDF and the BJP are leading in several seats against the incumbent LDF government.
As rounds of cheers and jeers alternate between the two rival camps, democracy’s verdict in this prestigious southern constituency hangs in the balance. All eyes are now on whether Tharoor’s recent surge will be enough to overcome Chandrasekhar’s formidable challenge.
For Tharoor, a third consecutive term would be an impressive feat that cements his status as one of Kerala’s most prominent leaders cutting across partisan lines. His strong social media outreach and ability to rally the state’s influential youth vote could tilt the scales in his favour.
On the other hand, a victory for Chandrasekhar would mark a significant breakthrough for the BJP in its long quest to expand its legislative footprint in Kerala.
Separated by contrasting styles and persuasions, but united in their ambition to represent the capital, Tharoor and Chandrasekhar’s intense duel has come to epitomize the fierce democratic spirit of the coastal state. As the cliffhanger plays out, all eyes are transfixed at the results that will eventually decide Thiruvananthapuram’s political destiny.