THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A fierce political battle is unfolding in Kerala’s capital as the Congress party’s aggressive campaign for the upcoming Thiruvananthapuram Corporation elections has reportedly caused significant alarm within the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM)-led circles. The escalating tensions have now spilled over into the digital realm, sparking an intense cyber war between the two major fronts.
​Sources indicate that the strategic pairing of veteran Congress leader K. Muraleedharan, who is leading the campaign efforts, and youth leader K. S. Sabarinathan, who is being projected as a key face and potential Mayoral candidate, has generated a substantial pro-Congress momentum across the Corporation wards.
​The Congress campaign has taken an early lead, having swiftly announced candidates for 95 percent of the wards and commenced extensive door-to-door canvassing. In sharp contrast, both the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have faced delays in finalising and announcing their candidate lists, reportedly due to internal conflicts and factionalism, amplifying the Congress’s early advantage.
​Cyber Warfare Intensifies
​The unexpected surge by the Congress appears to have prompted a sharp, defensive response from the CPM’s digital wing. The article notes that a targeted cyber-attack campaign has been launched, specifically aiming personal insults and derogatory posts at K. Muraleedharan.
​An example cited includes a post by a CPM sympathiser, Sreejith Kokkadan, who sarcastically suggested on Facebook that “capturing the Thampanoor bus stand” would be the first step towards winning the Corporation.
​Congress supporters were quick to retaliate, pivoting the attack into a debate on governance and development. A counter-post challenged the LDF’s decades-long rule, stating, “If you want to know the development status under the LDF which has ruled the Corporation for 40 years, come and see the Thampanoor bus stand area after a couple of days of rain. Don’t forget to bring a boat.”
​Congress leaders maintain that the cyber-offensive is a blatant attempt by the LDF to deflect public attention from their long tenure in power and the perceived lack of developmental achievements in the capital city. With the civic polls drawing near, the political and digital warfare in Thiruvananthapuram is only expected to intensify.
