The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is thinking of fielding firebrand tribal leader C.K. Janu from Mananthavady in an effort to sway the tribal votes their way.
Sources in the UDF camp said that Ms Janu has already held preliminary discussions in this regard with senior Congress leaders at the KPCC headquarters here.
“She seemed very keen on contesting,” said the source. “We are actively considering her for Mananthavady. Janu would be a better bet than regular party candidates and will bring in more tribal voters. But a final decision has not been taken,” the source added.
According to the UDF camp, it was Ms Janu who sent feelers to the Opposition and leaders had reciprocated.
However, a key aide of Ms Janu said that it was the UDF which showed interest in making her a candidate. “But it is true that she is very enthusiastic at the prospect of contesting polls,” said the aide, adding, “If Janu becomes a candidate, then the UDF does not have to worry about tribal votes at all.”
It is ironic that the UDF and Ms Janu have become pally since it was in the Muthanga police firing that occurred during the rule of A.K. Antony in 2003 that she was thrust into national limelight.
Ms Janu had started her work among the tribals as a member of the CPI(M) but later got disillusioned because of the Marxist party’s “lack of sympathy” for tribals.
She went ahead to form the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha and led many agitations to get land for tribals.
The Mananthavady constituency, a tribal stronghold, has come into being after delimitation. In the last elections K.C. Kunjiraman of the CPI(M) had won from the North Wayanad constituency which also included Mananthavady.
The UDF is hoping to snatch it from the CPI(M) if Ms Janu enters the fray.