Elections On My Plate: Rajdeep Sardesai's ground report from Battleground Kerala

24 minutes ago

In this episode of Elections On My Plate, India Today's Consulting Editor, Rajdeep Sardesai, brings this ground report from Battleground Kerala as it gears up for assembly elections on April 9.

Transcript

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00:17:03are the most beautiful part in a democracy and i see it in full essence in kerala because they

00:17:08celebrate elections malayalese everybody knows their candidates everybody knows their issues

00:17:13everybody knows everybody has an opinion so you feel very good that people are so aware of what

00:17:18is happening and they have an opinion that is very important i think in a democracy and

00:17:22elections i couldn't agree with you more what kerala thinks today then when it comes to electoral

00:17:27democracy and the absence in a way of money power india should think tomorrow that's one of the

00:17:34many things i enjoy about an election in kerala but what i enjoy the most you know is the food

00:17:40okay we are heading on the campaign trail you are watching elections on my plate enjoy

00:17:49too good

00:18:01so

00:18:26Mr. Chief Minister, first of all, Namaskaram.

00:18:29Thank you very much for giving us some time.

00:18:31I know you have a very busy schedule.

00:18:34Would I be right in saying that this election is a report card of your 10 years in power?

00:18:40It is a referendum whether you want Mr. Pinray Vijayan for five more years or you don't

00:18:45want it.

00:18:45That is the main single issue of this election.

00:18:58But I only see big posters of Pinray Vijayan.

00:19:01I see everywhere I go in Kerala, I see only posters of Pinray Vijayan.

00:19:06So is it about Pinray Vijayan this election?

00:19:09No, no, no.

00:19:09It is about the latest election of the funding of the east.

00:19:16I see the results for the new government.

00:19:19The new government is the result for the new government for this election.

00:19:25I know it is about the new government, December 4, December 2000.

00:19:42What is your biggest achievement?

00:19:45If you look back at 10 years, what will you tell the voters is your biggest achievement?

00:19:49If you look back at 10 years, what will you tell the voters is your biggest achievement?

00:20:09Extreme poverty you have removed but the fact is that Kerala in terms of youth unemployment

00:20:15has one of the highest rates in the country.

00:20:17Growth rates haven't picked up to the same extent.

00:20:21Industrialization has not come and you have a large revenue surplus, a large revenue deficit.

00:20:26You are not being able to garner revenue.

00:20:29So is that the big challenge?

00:20:30Yes, extreme poverty you have overcome but there are no jobs for the young.

00:20:35In terms of the Jolida's job, we have to make sure the growth of the young.

00:20:41In Kerala, there is a big achievement for the young.

00:20:47There is a big achievement for the young.

00:20:51There is a big achievement for the young.

00:21:08It is good that you are speaking of ease of doing business

00:21:23because Congress is claiming Penrai Vijayan has changed the left, new left is corporatized.

00:21:30You are giving Kerala away to corporate companies.

00:21:33That in the name of privatization, some corporate companies are taking over.

00:21:37This is not the real left.

00:21:38It is a real right.

00:21:42Now, the newsprint is now in Kerala.

00:21:48If you want to talk about the government,

00:21:51then you have to talk about it.

00:21:53Then you have to talk about Kerala Paper Products Limited.

00:21:57It is a real right.

00:21:58It is a real right.

00:22:01We have to talk about it.

00:22:03We have to talk about it.

00:22:04When we talk about it,

00:22:09we have to talk about it.

00:22:13We are talking about it.

00:22:15Very serious charge that Congress leaders or your opponents make is of corruption.

00:22:20Sabri Mala gold theft case.

00:22:22Wherever they go, they raise Sabri Mala gold theft case,

00:22:24saying that Penrai Vijayan's government allowed the Sabri Mala gold theft case to take place during his term in power.

00:22:52Kerala is the least corrupt state.

00:22:58Yes, it is .

00:22:59That is what I want to talk about.

00:23:03It is not about the LDF.

00:23:05They are not about the LDF.

00:23:06It is about the LDF.

00:23:08They are not about the LDF in order.

00:23:10That is what I am told.

00:23:11Are you ready for an open debate your 10 years versus 5 years of UPA?

00:23:16Open public debate.

00:23:17Are you ready?

00:23:18What you have achieved and what they have achieved.

00:23:20That is why it is now.

00:23:23It is not about the Congress.

00:23:33You are already the first chief minister to have completed 10 years in a row in Kerala.

00:23:38I want to ask you, what is your prediction for this election? How many seats for LDF, how many for

00:23:44UDF?

00:23:45In 2016, we will be able to take a seat in 2016. In 2016, we will be able to take

00:23:53a seat in 2016.

00:23:56We will be able to take a seat in 2016.

00:24:10I have to tell you a secret. You and I are born on the same day.

00:24:1424th of May, you are 80, I am 60. I don't have your energy.

00:24:20So I want to know, is this your last election? Win or lose? Whether you win or whether you lose?

00:24:25Is this Pindrai Vijayan's last election?

00:24:30Party will decide.

00:24:32But your critics say Pindrai Vijayan has become bigger than the party.

00:24:37That is why some left people have even left the party because you are bigger than the party.

00:24:42You are saying party will decide.

00:24:47That is not factual. That you are bigger than the party. That people as I said at the very start.

00:24:54I always ask you this.

00:24:58People say Narendra Modi is a one man show. Is Pindrai Vijayan a one man show? I asked you last

00:25:04time, are you Modi in Munda? And you got very angry.

00:25:07No, no, no, no, no, no, no. You are not a one man show.

00:25:17We will see whether my birthday mate is able to have a record hat trick or will he do what

00:25:25his party says? Win or lose? Thank you very much. Thank you.

00:25:46Okay. Now, while the left front has pitched Pindrai Vijayan at the left, right and center as its face in

00:25:55this Kerala campaign, a deeply factionalized Congress has chosen to press the pause button on the leadership issue.

00:26:02Which is why Shibhi and I have traveled here to Parvayur in Erna Kulam district where the Congress's leader of

00:26:11the opposition VD Satishan is the candidate of five time MLA and potentially one of its chief ministerial aspirants.

00:26:20Am I right that the Congress has VD Satishan, Rame Chanitala, KC Venu Gopal? Give me their strengths. What are

00:26:29their respective strengths?

00:26:30Satishan has grown as the party's face, the five brand leader who is supported by the party workers. Chanitala experience,

00:26:38lots of years of experience and also age factor.

00:26:41We can see a DK Shivkumar situation where you can tell Satishan you have time, but Chanitala is little more

00:26:48older and more experienced.

00:26:49KC, the MLAs. That's why Congress took a lot of time also. Most of these MLAs are KC's choices. The

00:26:55candidates are KC's choices.

00:26:57So all three are in the race. Yes. It's a more unexpected, unpredictable contest than the elections actually. Who's becoming

00:27:04the chief minister if Congress comes to power?

00:27:06A battle within a battle. Will the Congress score a self-goal yet again? And does it really have a

00:27:13strategy beyond anti-incumbency?

00:27:15Those are some of the questions I want to pose to VD Satishan. Come with us.

00:27:26How are you sir? Namaskaram. How are you?

00:27:39Is there a strategy beyond anti-incumbency against Pindrai Vijayan that you are hoping is there?

00:27:44No, no. We have prepared. We started our preparation one year back. Not one year back. Really it was five

00:27:53years back. We have analyzed the political situation in Kerala.

00:27:57Have you become overconfident after the local party election in December? No, no. You are overconfident now?

00:28:03No, I will tell you. I will tell you. In almost all the states across the country, the opposition is

00:28:09losing the by-elections. But we have been winning all the by-elections with wonderful margin in Kerala. Except one.

00:28:18Even in that case, we reduced their majority from 40,000 to 12,000. In all other cases, 25,000,

00:28:2637,000, all big margins.

00:28:28Everyone is saying left is more organized on the ground than you are. That is it.

00:28:32And they are fighting a local election. Y'all are trying to make this a national election. People want local

00:28:38issues addressed.

00:28:39But why? Why if they are so organized? Why they failed in the local party elections? We received a wonderful

00:28:48victory within the last 30 years. Biggest victory in the last 30 years.

00:28:53It is a state election. State election is different. Yes. I agree with that. I agree with that. We have

00:29:00prepared. Now we are also doing in a professional way.

00:29:04So who is the chief minister candidate? Who is the chief? Are you in the chief ministerial race or not?

00:29:10That you know very well what is the procedure of the Congress party. Congress party is not announcing their chief

00:29:17minister candidate anywhere in the country.

00:29:19The left is saying they have got a clear face in Pindrai, Vijayan. But I will tell you, we have

00:29:27galaxy of leaders. I agree with that. But Pindrai is only a dictator.

00:29:32But what is happening in the CPM? So many persons left. There is a strong rebellious movement in the CPM

00:29:39against this dictatorship.

00:29:40You are saying Pindrai is a dictator. People are saying Satishan also is a very tough person. Not easy to

00:29:48get along with?

00:29:49No. I am a tough person for organizational matters. If I come here one month from now, will I be

00:29:55speaking to the next chief minister of Kerala?

00:29:58That you can speak to the new chief minister that will be declared by the ACC. But he is smiling.

00:30:07Think about Pindrai Vijayan in this camera. What do you want to tell Pindrai Vijayan? What do you want to

00:30:12tell him? Look at the camera and tell him.

00:30:14Dear chief minister, you invited me for a debate. I am ready. I am ready to debate with you. I

00:30:22am privileged to have a debate with you.

00:30:25You are the 10 years. You are the 10 years chief minister here. I am privileged to have a debate

00:30:31with you. But unfortunately, you are not giving me the time and the place.

00:30:37If you are informing me the time and place, wherever it is, whenever it is, I will come to you.

00:30:44But for the last 24 hours, I have been waiting for you, for your debate. Please invite me.

00:30:50We will wait and see if 2026 is a repeat of 2021 or you finally see the Congress once again.

00:30:56Sir, I have made a statement also. If I am not able to make a win for UDF. It was

00:31:04a hypothetical question. If UDF is failed, I will return from politics. Then I will go for political exile. I

00:31:13have declared.

00:31:14Sir, all politicians said that. No, no, no, no. No politicians said in the history. You are saying that if

00:31:20you cannot give the UDF a victory, you will retire from politics.

00:31:24Politics, I will go for political exile.

00:31:30Okay, Shibi, it's time for a coconut break. What would we do as coastal people without the coconut in summer?

00:31:37What's your favourite drink?

00:31:39Coconut drink, of course.

00:31:40Nothing stronger?

00:31:42I like Sarbat also.

00:31:44Sarbat?

00:31:45Yeah.

00:31:45Coconut Chada, we are a family channel.

00:31:48Coconut?

00:31:49Coconut concert?

00:31:51How much?

00:31:5255.

00:31:5355 for what?

00:31:55Expose it.

00:31:56Chalo.

00:31:57There is a crisis also.

00:31:59There is a break in the seat.

00:32:03This is what I want to do to a lot of people in my life but I will never do

00:32:07because I am a non-violent person.

00:32:10Ahimsa.

00:32:26Now our travels across central Kerala have brought us to Puttapali in Kottayam district where Rahul Gandhi is on a

00:32:35whistle-stop campaign here in support of Chandi Uman, the son of the former Kerala Chief Minister Uman Chandi.

00:32:43For Rahul Gandhi, once an MP from Kerala, this is yet another opportunity to prove that he can be a

00:32:51vote-catcher especially south of the Vindias.

00:32:54And here too, the Congress wants to replicate the Karnataka-Thelingana formula by promising free bus rides to women.

00:33:02But do free bus rides to women work?

00:33:05That's what Shibi and I want to find out.

00:33:08Shibi, free bus rides for women?

00:33:09Yes, sir.

00:33:10Main guarantee.

00:33:11Does it work?

00:33:11To some extent it will but a larger audience know that the KSRTC is in loss and it's just recovering

00:33:16from ventilator.

00:33:18So we'll have to see practically how much is it possible.

00:33:21Okay, let's find out.

00:33:23Do you want free bus ride or do you want more jobs for women?

00:33:26If you want to buy Joli, you can buy a bus ride for free ride.

00:33:30That's how.

00:33:31Joli?

00:33:31Job, job opportunities.

00:33:33You will use free bus ride.

00:33:35Do you want free bus ride or do you want jobs?

00:33:39Joli.

00:33:40Ah.

00:33:41Free bus ride Rahul Gandhi, one thousand rupees for Finrai Vision.

00:33:46Which is better?

00:33:47Fast, fast, fast.

00:33:48Free bus ride.

00:33:49Free bus ride or thousand rupees for?

00:33:51I don't know.

00:33:52I don't know.

00:33:53I don't know.

00:33:55But I can have to trust too, will you trust me?

00:33:56Free-bus ride.

00:34:03Who do they trust more?

00:34:04Pinrai Vijayen or Rahul Gandhi?

00:34:06Rahul Gandhi promised the promise via Kurundal Vishwazi.

00:34:09Rahul Gandhi yeah Pinrai Vijayen.

00:34:13Who do you trust?

00:34:16No.

00:34:20You want jobs or you want free bus ride?

00:34:47Donald Trump controls Mr. Modi.

00:34:49Mr. Modi controls the

00:34:51Chief Minister of Korea.

00:34:52Everybody knows anybody who stands up

00:34:55against Narendra Modi is attacked.

00:35:02Why is the Chief Minister of Kerala not being attacked?

00:35:07Why is he being not interrogated?

00:35:11Why are there no cases against him?

00:35:15Why are his children not questioned?

00:35:19Because they are partners.

00:35:23You ask any LDF worker and he will tell you that the LDF is not a left government.

00:35:30It is a corporate government.

00:35:31It is a Adani government.

00:35:33It is a Ambani government.

00:35:34And the BJP knows that the left can never challenge them in India.

00:35:39Mr. Venugopal, Rahul Gandhi has launched a stinging attack on both the left and the BJP saying that there is

00:35:48collusion between left and BJP.

00:35:50They are colluding each other to defeat the LDF.

00:35:52You are saying that the left and BJP are colluding with each other?

00:35:56That is why yesterday the Prime Minister did not mention anything about the temple threat.

00:36:01You are saying Prime Minister is coming to Kerala and not attacking the BJP?

00:36:04CPM.

00:36:06And not attacking the CPM.

00:36:07But the point is CPM is your ally, India ally in the center.

00:36:10No, no, Kerala actually, Kerala's CPM is entirely different.

00:36:14Kerala's CPM, you can see that.

00:36:15This is not a Labour Party.

00:36:17This is not a Socialist Party.

00:36:18This is not a Communist Party.

00:36:20This has now become the Corporate Party.

00:36:22Sir, Pindrae Vijayan says Congress is the B-team of the left.

00:36:25He's went public and said that.

00:36:27India, people of Kerala are joking by hearing that statement.

00:36:30People know about that, how Rahul Gandhi is fighting against Modi.

00:36:34Every Kerala's know about it.

00:36:36Then Pindrae Vijayan is telling Congress and Rahul Gandhi is the agent of BJP.

00:36:40Who is going to believe?

00:36:41Rajdeep Ji, who is going to believe?

00:36:56This has been a bridge too far.

00:37:00The party has only won one Assembly election year over the years.

00:37:04But in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won a Lok Sabha seat in Trisur for the first time

00:37:10and got almost 20% of the vote share.

00:37:14We've come to Pala here in Kotaayam, where one of the young faces of the BJP is contesting, Sean George,

00:37:22in a Christian-dominated constituency.

00:37:25It's part of the BJP's attempt to woo and win over the Christian vote in a state with an 18

00:37:34% Christian population.

00:37:36Come with me and meet Sean George.

00:37:50Mr. George, how are you?

00:37:52Good to see you.

00:37:54For you to be contesting on a BJP ticket, a party that has only won one seat, Assembly seat in

00:38:00the history of Kerala elections, is this for vote share or to win the election?

00:38:06We quit that policy for the vote share.

00:38:09Now Kerala BJP is contesting only to win.

00:38:12Only to win?

00:38:13Only to win.

00:38:14You actually believe that you have a chance to win the election?

00:38:17I only have the chance to win here.

00:38:19BJP is seen as a Hindutva party.

00:38:21Who told you?

00:38:22It's not a Hindutva party.

00:38:23It's not a Sabka Saad, Sabka Vikas.

00:38:25Sabka Saad, Sabka Vikas.

00:38:27Yes.

00:38:27You don't have a single Muslim MP in Parliament.

00:38:30You don't have a Christian face in Parliament.

00:38:34I am the Christian face.

00:38:35In Kerala.

00:38:36I am the Christian face in Kerala.

00:38:37It's transforming.

00:38:39Definitely, the minority, community, always a distance from BJP.

00:38:44So, we are trying to make that distance away.

00:38:47We are on BJP.

00:38:48Now in Kerala itself, we have contested 958 candidates in the local party election, Christian candidates.

00:38:55Yes.

00:38:57Why will Christians be attracted to BJP?

00:38:59What is it?

00:39:00Why?

00:39:01Is it because some of you are making the Muslims of Kerala to be a common enemy?

00:39:05No.

00:39:06That you want to create a Christian vote bank by targeting Muslims?

00:39:10No.

00:39:10No, not like that.

00:39:12The appeasement.

00:39:13The appeasement politics by LDF and UDF to a community, it's an injustice to another community.

00:39:20The other community is Christians and Hindus here.

00:39:23So, we are not against Muslims, but for the vote bank, vote bank politics, they are targeting, they are doing

00:39:31appeasement to the Muslim community.

00:39:34And also, they are encouraging the anti-national elements like SDP and Jamaat-Islam in Kerala.

00:39:40They were the last local party election.

00:39:43And in this election, SDP have openly declared support to LDF.

00:39:47Why are you not saying that?

00:39:48That's an anti-national organization banned in India.

00:39:51But the fact is that you have targeted Christians, nuns in Chhattisgarh.

00:39:55Who told you?

00:39:57Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

00:39:58Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which is close to Sangh Paribar, has targeted Christian nuns in Chhattisgarh.

00:40:04No, no, no.

00:40:04You are stopping Christmas.

00:40:06They are, Bajrangadal is stopping Christmas celebrations.

00:40:08I was there.

00:40:09Yes.

00:40:09I was there in Chhattisgarh.

00:40:11I, I, I, myself won't go to the court to take bail for the nuns.

00:40:16But I know the situation, what happened there.

00:40:18That is, that is Bajrangadal, who made problem there.

00:40:22They have their own reason to make problem.

00:40:23So do you condemn Bajrangadal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad when they, when they target Christmas celebrations?

00:40:29Where?

00:40:30Here, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, why, why, why, why you are not seeing Prime Minister going to

00:40:37church on the Christmas day and to pray for Christianity?

00:40:41That is, and why you are not seeing that?

00:40:43How many seats will BJP get in Kerala?

00:40:46We have the potential to win 86 seats in Kerala.

00:40:51But depends on the candidate, depends on the adjustment, depends on the adjustment between this LDF and UDF.

00:40:56Whether you win or you lose, you will remain in BJP.

00:40:59You will not leave BJP.

00:41:00Chill my nuts.

00:41:01I am going to leave it there.

00:41:03I wish you well.

00:41:04One of the young faces of the BJP.

00:41:07Thank you very much for joining me.

00:41:13Okay.

00:41:20Okay, as you can see, there's a church service on behind me here in Pala, but we've also got caught

00:41:27in a terrible storm here in Kerala, and that can happen in a state with uncertain weather.

00:41:33So, what we've decided is that we're going to head back to Kochi for a lunch break, and hopefully get

00:41:40a sense of what's happening there in terms of the youth and the Christian vote.

00:41:49Elections on my plate.

00:41:51I'm hungry.

00:41:53Hungry in the rain.

00:41:54Let's go.

00:41:59Okay, we're heading back to Kochi.

00:42:03We're heading back to Kochi.

00:42:39Okay.

00:42:40Whoa.

00:42:42We've come back on that long drive from Kota Yam to here in Kochi, and Shibi has a tip for

00:42:49me.

00:42:49What's the tip for lunchtime?

00:42:51You cannot leave Kerala without having fish for lunch.

00:42:53You can't leave Kerala without having fish for lunch.

00:42:57It's a late lunch, but the fish doesn't mind it.

00:43:00Let's go.

00:43:08Okay, the same fish that we saw in the fish market in the morning will be on our table this

00:43:13late afternoon.

00:43:14Karthi Yayani.

00:43:16Remember the name.

00:43:18Food's coming.

00:43:22We've got Sharath and Vishnu who are going to guide us to what should we have in Karthi Yayani.

00:43:28But I want to ask you one thing.

00:43:30How are the lines outside your restaurant at lunchtime longer than Dhurandar or a Radnikath film?

00:43:36What is the secret?

00:43:37Fresh fish.

00:43:38Fresh fish.

00:43:39Yeah, fresh fish.

00:43:40And that's served with love.

00:43:42Fresh fish served with love.

00:43:44Pyaar se.

00:43:46In Kerala style, what is the word for love?

00:43:48Sneham.

00:43:49Sneham.

00:43:50Served with sneham.

00:43:52Malayalam for love is sneham.

00:43:56Nice.

00:43:56So, what's the speciality that you're going to give me for lunch?

00:44:00Our homemade tiradakari.

00:44:02Homemade?

00:44:03Yeah.

00:44:03This comes from the house?

00:44:04Yes.

00:44:07Your mother or who cooks?

00:44:08Yes, my mother.

00:44:09So, basically, she cooks all the way from my house.

00:44:12It's like a four to five hours preparation.

00:44:14All her love, all her dedications are all spent on the tiradakari.

00:44:18So, you'll be hitting that.

00:44:19It'll be the best tiradakari.

00:44:21It's called a grey mullet.

00:44:22Oh, grey mullet.

00:44:24Yep.

00:44:24So, you're going to give me that?

00:44:25Yeah.

00:44:26Yes.

00:44:26And lots of chaktis.

00:44:28Sure.

00:44:28All your special chaktis.

00:44:31And then I'm done.

00:44:32Yes.

00:44:33And then after that, I will do what we do in Goa.

00:44:37Which is, I don't know whether you do it in Kerala.

00:44:39Long sleep.

00:44:41Yes.

00:45:09Homemade fish curry one side, sea bass on the other.

00:45:12You can see a lovely plate here with tiger prawns.

00:45:15My day is made.

00:45:17Now, you know why we call this show, Elections on my plate.

00:45:20And why my producer insisted we come to Kerala.

00:45:25After this, a bit of a nap.

00:45:27And then, two X-Factors that could well decide who wins the battle for Kerala.

00:45:33For now, Shibhi and I are winning the battle for the best fish.

00:45:39Enjoy!

00:45:48Too good!

00:46:03Okay, you're watching Elections on my plate.

00:46:05And we are in Kochi.

00:46:07And we've come to the St. Anthony Church.

00:46:10Where large crowds have gathered for prayers.

00:46:12As they do every Tuesday.

00:46:14But remember, this is Easter week.

00:46:16And as Shibhi has been reminding me, Kerala has an 18% Christian population.

00:46:22And Central Kerala is 28%.

00:46:25So there are two dozen seats which will be influenced by the Christian vote.

00:46:30But as recent elections have shown, Shibhi, the Christians are not a monolith.

00:46:35Divided into various denominations.

00:46:38Divided in party loyalties.

00:46:40So, it seems almost as if there is no Christian vote bank.

00:46:47But it could become a big X-Factor in this election in 2026.

00:46:51Definitely.

00:46:52Especially for the Congress, this is very crucial.

00:46:54Because traditionally, the Christians have voted in favor of Congress.

00:46:57And recently, we have seen some of them making statements in favor of BJP.

00:47:01The Congress is struggling without a Christian face also.

00:47:04So, possibly, this is the election that will help them secure those Christian votes.

00:47:09Especially in Central Kerala, Trishur, Ernaklam, Kortem are all decided by Christian votes.

00:47:14Remember, the BJPs also, as I said earlier in the show, have been trying for this Christian vote.

00:47:18The Congress was traditionally seen as the party of the Christian vote.

00:47:22And the left has also always done well here, along with regional parties like the Kerala Congress.

00:47:29I am joined here by a friend, Ramesh, Matthew Ramesh, Senior Journalist.

00:47:34We were just discussing, is there a Christian vote in Kerala?

00:47:38No, every Christian has its own opinion.

00:47:40And they vote according to issues, topics, situation, candidates.

00:47:46You know, different factors are involved.

00:47:48So, you are saying that there is nothing like a uniform Christian vote?

00:47:52Nothing as a Christian vote.

00:47:53Because we normally vote on, I mean, our own opinion.

00:47:57On local issues?

00:47:58Local issues for the local election.

00:48:00So, religion doesn't matter?

00:48:02Religion doesn't matter if the candidate is good.

00:48:04But there is also the Sangh Pariwaar and the targeting of Christian nuns and missionaries.

00:48:09So, that clearly has an influence or not?

00:48:12It is slightly an issue where people discuss such issues.

00:48:16But nowadays, what I have noticed is people are not bothered about the local issues,

00:48:20the national issues when it comes to the local elections.

00:48:23I mean, say, local elections.

00:48:27So, they have a slight disagreement.

00:48:29I don't think in court time, districts like court time, in some areas,

00:48:31local board election results have all shown BJP is increasing its vote share.

00:48:36Especially, Pala, Tirwalla.

00:48:37These are constituencies that BJP can start targeting if they happen to win seats for this assembly elections.

00:48:42Because of the Christian vote slightly tilting towards them.

00:48:45Some share.

00:48:46I'm going to try and get the views of various people who have gathered here.

00:48:51Is there a Christian vote?

00:48:52Do you vote for a candidate based on his or her community or the work they do?

00:48:56No, I don't think anybody in our community votes like that in Kerala.

00:49:00We vote based on their performance.

00:49:02You vote based on their performance.

00:49:03What is your view?

00:49:04Do you believe that you would go by what the church told you?

00:49:08No, no, certainly not.

00:49:09No?

00:49:09The clergy has no role in deciding the politics of the state.

00:49:13But then people do have a tendency to get influenced by that.

00:49:16Let us see for the results anyway.

00:49:17What's the best thing about Kerala?

00:49:19Kerala, the best thing is we do have a political dimension to everything.

00:49:23And we do, we are very opinionated, unlike in other states.

00:49:27And Hindu, Muslim, Christians live in harmony?

00:49:30Very much, friends.

00:49:31Good sign.

00:49:32You celebrate Onam along with all your Christian and Muslim friends?

00:49:36Onam, Eid, I go for biryani to my Muslim friends' home for Eid.

00:49:40Christmas, I go to my Christian friends' house for all the stew and Appam in the morning,

00:49:45chicken biryani or whatever biryani in the afternoon.

00:49:48I do all that.

00:49:49And you call everybody over?

00:49:50Home for Satya.

00:49:51Let's get a few more voices.

00:49:57What are the issues that you believe will influence elections?

00:50:00How do you...

00:50:00There is Congress, there is left, there is BJP.

00:50:03What is the issue that...

00:50:06Congress vargan.

00:50:07Congress vargan.

00:50:08Why?

00:50:09I have an attachment to Congress.

00:50:12Yes, an attachment to Congress.

00:50:13Attachment?

00:50:13Yeah.

00:50:14In Modi's time.

00:50:15You like Modi?

00:50:16Yeah.

00:50:17What do you like about Modi?

00:50:18Modi is very good.

00:50:19He's doing a lot of good things.

00:50:21Perhaps Kerala is one of the few places where you'll get someone who says they're going

00:50:24to vote for the Congress, but they like Narendra Modi.

00:50:27On your religious identity or the fact that you're a Christian, you'll vote for a Christian

00:50:32candidate or whatever the church says, no.

00:50:34No, no, it is going to be secular.

00:50:36So you're saying in Kerala, religious identities don't really matter.

00:50:40We are a very, very secular state.

00:50:42So you would go to temple, mosque and churches.

00:50:44Yes, yes, yes.

00:50:45I believe in all the religions and I have something like a quite syncretic state.

00:50:50Very good, ma'am.

00:50:51All the very best.

00:50:52Yes, thank you.

00:50:53India have many more like you.

00:50:54Yes.

00:50:55This is the Kerala story that we really need to show.

00:50:59There's a 67-year-old woman called Elizabeth, right, who is, got her children.

00:51:05Two children, right?

00:51:08One teacher and she works from 4 a.m. in the morning till 12 in the night making 2,000

00:51:13rupees

00:51:14for 34 years till 12 in the night selling flowers outside the church.

00:51:20This is the spirit of Kerala and dare I say of India.

00:51:25Okay, Shibi, we are going to take, go and examine the next X factor, the young.

00:51:31Do they have that same energy that a 67-year-old has and which direction do the young want to

00:51:37go?

00:51:38Let's go.

00:51:39Thank you very much.

00:51:42Okay, sir.

00:51:43Okay, sir.

00:51:44Photo.

00:51:54Remember, in every Indian election now increasingly, the woman vote and the youth vote matter.

00:52:00All the parties are trying to woo these two key demographics in this election.

00:52:05And remember also, Kerala has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the country.

00:52:11Shibi, as you travel across Kerala on a daily basis, what do the young tell you?

00:52:16Kerala ke yuva ke dil mein kya hai?

00:52:18What do they really want?

00:52:19Definitely job opportunities because a lot of them wants to stay in Kerala and work here itself.

00:52:25Also, higher education facilities.

00:52:27A lot of them go to cities like Bangalore, Chennai for higher education.

00:52:30School education, yes, it's sorted here.

00:52:33But higher education job opportunities, that's a big, big concern because now we have migration going on to European countries.

00:52:39Earlier it was just to Gulf countries.

00:52:40And those still in Gulf countries wants to come back.

00:52:43So, we don't have enough job opportunities, but too much skilled workers here.

00:52:47So, you have a few IT parks, including one in Trivandrum that was set up and here in Kochi, but

00:52:53still not enough.

00:52:54Not enough.

00:52:55We started the first IT park in India, in Technopark in the 90s.

00:52:58But we couldn't explore that industry in a way which we should have.

00:53:02Interesting because remember, of course, with the West Asia crisis, the pressure will be even more on many of them

00:53:08to return perhaps back home.

00:53:10But what do they really want in this election from their politicians?

00:53:14We are here at Marine Drive.

00:53:16Yes, Mumbai has a Marine Drive, the original one, Shibi.

00:53:20Then, of course, it went to Patna.

00:53:22And now you have one in Kochi as well.

00:53:24Let's go.

00:53:28Hello, ma'am.

00:53:29What are you having?

00:53:31Are you going to share it with us?

00:53:35I can also have one, Muraka.

00:53:40Now, you tell me, what do the young of Kerala want?

00:53:44From government?

00:53:46Whichever government.

00:53:47Okay, I would say that people want more job opportunities, you know.

00:53:51Because, you know, no matter how educated they are, people are still unemployed because of lack of job opportunities and

00:53:57all.

00:53:57What is it, you have enough job opportunities or not here?

00:54:00Actually, I am a film school student.

00:54:02Okay.

00:54:03Here in Kerala?

00:54:04Yeah.

00:54:04You want to go into films?

00:54:05Yeah.

00:54:06Do you think there is a future in films in Kerala?

00:54:09Yes, I think there is a future in Kerala.

00:54:11I think particularly for me, I think I can do it in the film field.

00:54:16Oh, good.

00:54:16You are going to be the next, what, Mamuti or the next Mohanlal?

00:54:21What is it that you are?

00:54:21Prithviraj.

00:54:22Prithviraj, okay.

00:54:23What do you think, are there enough opportunities for the young or not?

00:54:26No, I don't think so.

00:54:27There is nothing happening in the state except some NRI remittance.

00:54:33Ground reality is not so.

00:54:35Ground reality is most young Malayalis are leaving the state.

00:54:38Yeah, that's right.

00:54:39Only here we have only senior citizens.

00:54:42Most of the houses, you can go to the north side of Kerala, you know, south side of Kerala.

00:54:48You cannot find even a single person youngsters.

00:54:52What is it that you all want most?

00:54:54What do the young of Kerala want?

00:54:56Do you have enough jobs?

00:54:57Do you have job opportunities here?

00:54:58Do you want to live in Kerala or go outside?

00:55:00No, we are looking abroad.

00:55:01You are looking abroad where?

00:55:03US, UK.

00:55:04You?

00:55:04Maybe Canada, Dubai.

00:55:06Dubai, Canada, Dubai.

00:55:07Dubai, even after the West Asia War, you still want to go to Dubai?

00:55:10Yes, still.

00:55:11Why?

00:55:11Why do you want to leave?

00:55:12So many opportunities there.

00:55:14So, it's always emerging new technologies kind of things.

00:55:18You don't have the opportunities here?

00:55:20Yeah, here also there is little.

00:55:22Compared to that, it's more over there.

00:55:25Doesn't he look like Sanju Samson?

00:55:27Please tell me.

00:55:28Sanju Samson 2.

00:55:30Are you all happy to be in Kerala?

00:55:31You want to go outside Kerala?

00:55:32What do you want?

00:55:33I want to go outside Kerala.

00:55:35Where?

00:55:36Dubai.

00:55:37You want to go to Dubai?

00:55:38Ah, yes.

00:55:38There's a war going on there.

00:55:40Yeah, I know.

00:55:41I'm coming yesterday from there.

00:55:42You live in Dubai?

00:55:44Yeah.

00:55:45What do you prefer?

00:55:46Dubai or Kerala?

00:55:47I prefer Dubai.

00:55:49Why?

00:55:49Because there have more facility.

00:55:54What is your juice?

00:55:56Let me give you a juice on marine drive.

00:55:58What's your favourite juice?

00:56:01Pineapple.

00:56:02Fresh pineapple.

00:56:03Two.

00:56:19Pineapple juice almost done.

00:56:21Shibi, I've got one more treat for you.

00:56:23We are in Kerala.

00:56:25And when you're in this part of the country, there's one restaurant that I always go to.

00:56:29And I'm going to take the entire crew, hopefully well dressed, for a special Keralam dinner.

00:56:35You're watching, Elections and Pineapple Juice on my plate.

00:56:40Enjoy.

00:56:50Am I looking good?

00:56:53Let's go.

00:57:03Okay, Shibi, what's your choice here at Paragon?

00:57:06Fish mango curry.

00:57:07Fish mango curry.

00:57:08Okay, Am Admi, mango curry.

00:57:10We agree on that.

00:57:11So, fish mango curry, your traditional speciality.

00:57:15Then, what is it?

00:57:16You'll get some starter.

00:57:17Prongs like a dry fry.

00:57:19You'll get a starter.

00:57:19Perfect.

00:57:20Prongs are starter.

00:57:21Then, we'll have your biryani.

00:57:23Yeah.

00:57:23So, along with the fish mango curry, I'll get some Appam's.

00:57:25Appam's, perfect.

00:57:26And something for vegetarians.

00:57:28Otherwise, people say Rajdeep only has non-vegs.

00:57:30We have other options.

00:57:31Veg mango is there.

00:57:32Or, paneer mango curry also there.

00:57:34So, I'll get some veggie mango with that Appam.

00:57:37And we have a tamarind nattole also there as a speciality.

00:57:40We'll get some.

00:57:41Sounds great.

00:57:41Let's have some tamarind.

00:57:53Mmm, I'm smelling the lovely mango curry.

00:57:56I have to ask you, smell the political air for me.

00:57:58You live here.

00:57:59Who's going to win the battle for Keralam?

00:58:01Sir, I was hoping to give an answer to you by the end of the show.

00:58:04But, I am unable to.

00:58:05Because, I think it's a very, very close contest that's taking place.

00:58:07Because, one week, you see the UDF having an edge.

00:58:09The other week, you feel that the LDF has an edge.

00:58:11It's a very close type contest that we are witnessing.

00:58:14Okay.

00:58:15She's copping out.

00:58:16She'll be there.

00:58:17Not playing in IPL style.

00:58:18And, guess what?

00:58:19I'm copping out too.

00:58:21Because, I genuinely believe in a state like Keralam.

00:58:24It can often be a kate ki tukkar.

00:58:26A close fight.

00:58:28If it is a localized election, the left has a real chance of a hat-trick.

00:58:33If, on the other hand, national narratives and anti-incumbency is even deeper.

00:58:37And, there is a minority consolidation in Central and North Kerala.

00:58:42The UDF could be the big winner.

00:58:45I'm playing safe.

00:58:46I'm simply going to enjoy this wonderful meal.

00:58:49And, I want to tell you this, Shibi.

00:58:51I love coming to Kerala.

00:58:52Because, of the diversity of your culture.

00:58:57As reflected in the food here in Paragon.

00:59:00Nothing beats it.

00:59:01For now, from the entire team on Elections on My Plate.

00:59:06Vivek, Amit, Alok, and Tinku.

00:59:09Thanks for watching.

00:59:11Enjoy.

00:59:12Or, as they would say in Malayalam.

00:59:15Tagarku.

00:59:16Tagarku.

00:59:17Namaskaram.

00:59:17We will be, by our way.

00:59:21Let's watch.

00:59:21We will do it.

00:59:28We will do it.

00:59:32See you next week.

00:59:38Byee.

00:59:39La Practire.

00:59:39Byee.

00:59:41Byee.

00:59:42Byee.

00:59:43Byee.

00:59:44Byee.

00:59:46Byee.

01:00:05I'll see you next time.

Elections On My Plate: Rajdeep Sardesai's ground report from Battleground Kerala

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