In this TN seat, Cong, BJP and AAP take centrestage

The BJP has fielded state party chief Pon Radhakrishnan, who won the seat in 1999, while the Congress candidate is H Vasanth Kumar, a well-known name who runs several business establishments and a television channel. Kanyakumari is perhaps the only seat in Tamil Nadu where the Congress, BJP and AAP stand a realistic chance of winning.

The AIADMK is contesting the seat for the first time, having always allotted it to its allies earlier. The DMK is a divided house, with a section unhappy with the party’s decision to not field sitting MP Helen Davidson, who won the last elections with Congress support.

In Idinthakarai, ground zero of the protests, a group of women are still continuing the symbolic 10 am to 4 pm relay hunger strike that began nearly 1,000 days ago. One woman, Sasimma, says the men are away, campaigning for Udayakumar.

M P Pushparayan, another face of the agitation, is contesting as the AAP candidate from neighbouring Tuticorin constituency which includes Kudankulam. Campaigning for Pushparayan in Periyathalai, a fishing village around 70 kilometres from Kanyakumari, Udayakumar says “dacoits and murderers” should be kept out of power — the latter reference seems to be to the BJP as the hamlet has some Muslim families. “They are scared of the BJP,” he explains later.

There is repeated reference to the agitation against the nuclear plant, the need to avenge the killing of four protesters in police firing and protect the interests of fishermen.

“We are very confident as the coastal population is excited. They know this is the last opportunity to save the sea,” says Udayakumar. While the AAP candidate has not been able to gain traction outside the coastal villages, he claims his support is not limited to the fishermen’s families. “There are issues like price rise and safeguarding agriculture. Besides the AAP stands for change and there is a mood for change,” he says.

With the majority population in Kanyakumari being Christians, the church plays an important role. While the church had earlier supported the agitation, albeit reluctantly, it is now silent as there are three Christian Nadar candidates in the fray — DMK’s F M Rajaratinam, AIADMK’s D John Thangam and CPM’s Bellarmin, which is likely to ensure a three-way split in the non-fishermen Christian votes. Bellarmin won the seat with the DMK’s help in 2004. The Congress, BJP and AAP candidates are Hindu Nadars.

The Congress sees Kanyakumari, one of its few strongholds in Tamil Nadu, as an “extension” of Kerala. The seat was once represented by none other than K Kamaraj. Of the five Assembly seats that the Congress won in Tamil Nadu in 2011, three are in Kanyakumari. Congress president Sonia Gandhi addressed her only public meeting in the state here.

On the other hand, the BJP has managed to gain ground, partly due to the frequent Hindu-Christian skirmishes. The party promises to make Kanyakumari a solar power hub, like Gujarat. BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi too addressed a campaign meeting here.

The Congress is hoping for tactical voting from the Christian community. The BJP, on the other hand, is hoping for consolidation of the Hindu votes.

Whatever the poll outcome, Udayakumar says he will be back in Idinthakarai to carry forward the agitation.