LDF corrected course after setback, confident of minority support, says RJD State secretary general Varughese George

RJD's Varughese George discusses party strategy, generational shift, and LDF's recovery ahead of upcoming Assembly elections.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), an ally of LDF, is contesting three seats- Vadakara, Koothuparambha and Kalpetta constituencies- while an RJD leader is contesting as an LDF Independent from Koduvally segment. In the upcoming polls, the party prioritises a generational shift as senior leaders make way for emerging candidates.

Excerpts from an interview with RJD State secretary general Varughese George:

Vadakara is often seen as a socialist stronghold, yet the UDF won last time and the RJD failed to make significant gains in the recent local body polls. Does this point to a fragmentation of the socialist vote? Is your support base eroding?

Since the formation of the Vadakara Assembly constituency, socialist forces have largely retained their dominance, with the exception of a single victory by the undivided Communist Party. The 2021 result, in which the RMPI won with UDF support, was shaped by specific and unusual circumstances rather than a structural shift in voter sentiment. We do not see any fragmentation of the socialist vote or an erosion of our support base. On the contrary, the ground situation remains favourable to us. RJD candidate is a well-known local leader who has served as the Eramala grama panchayat president three times, with a strong connect among the people. In the recent three-tier local body elections, we did not face any significant backlash in the Vadakara region. As in the past, with socialist and communist forces coming together, we are confident of consolidating our traditional support base and reclaiming the constituency.

A section within the party had called for severing ties with the LDF and aligning with the UDF. Could internal rifts affect your electoral prospects?

There were some issues in the party’s Kozhikode city unit, but we have already contained them. P. Kishan Chandh was ousted from the RJD for anti-party activities, while Sabah Pulpetta, who was initially removed from the post of office-bearer, has since been reinstated. The party is facing the Assembly elections as a united front.