Lok Sabha polls | Kanniyakumari all set for an interesting contest

Kanniyakumari Lok Sabha constituency: Unique religious demographics, political dynamics, and key players in upcoming elections.

The Kanniyakumari Lok Sabha constituency, lying in the southern-most tip of the country, is known not only for its geography but also its unique political turf owing to the equal proportion of Hindus and Christians. Religion overrides other considerations during elections here.

While Muslims and Christians together constitute 51% of the population, Nadars make up a substantial share of Hindu population, followed by Nairs, Vellalas and others. Polarisation on religious lines began in the 1980s after the communal riots in Mandaikadu.

Of the six Assembly constituencies, Colachal and Killiyoor belong to the Congress, while Kanniyakumari is with the AIADMK, Nagercoil is with the BJP and Padmanabhapuram, with the DMK. Vilavancode, which elected a Congress candidate three times, is lying vacant now, following the defection of its legislator S. Vijayadharani to the BJP.

Though minorities and the fishing community play a major role in choosing the winner here, the BJP has built a considerable support base over the period and a multi-cornered contest had resulted in the victory of BJP’s Pon. Radhakrishnan in 1999 and 2014.

While the constituency usually sees a two-cornered fight between the BJP and DMK, or the Congress, this time the AIADMK has fielded Pasilian Nazerath, a Christian who hails from the Catholic fishing community. He can create an impact on the poll outcome if he garners substantial votes from his community.

The Congress has fielded Vijay Vasanth, son of late H. Vasanthakumar and the incumbent MP of the constituency. He is also the cousin of BJP’s Chennai South candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan. The BJP has retained Mr. Radhakrishnan here again.

In the 2019 general election and the 2021 byelection, Congress candidates Vasanthakumar and Vijay Vasanth defeated Mr. Radhakrishnan.