Buzzed to win, but destined to lose

But considering the bipolar politics of Kerala, finishing second in an LS election was not a mean achievement.

Slated to win from Kerela’s capital, but destined to lose at the last moment: That sums up the political predicament of BJP veteran O Rajagopal.

During Friday’s counting, Rajagopal raised the expectation that he would mark BJP’s first win in Kerala. Even party workers were gearing to celebrate the victory that looked imminent. When he lost to Congress’s Shashi Tharoor in the final laps, the 84-year-old suave politician had finished his eighth unsuccessful electoral battle.

But considering the bipolar politics of Kerala, finishing second in an LS election was not a mean achievement.

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During the electioneering, Rajagopal had raised BJP’s prospect in Kerala. That BJP would come to power, if elected he would become a minister; his contributions to railway development during his innings in the Vajpayee government; and the sympathy that he has a streak of defeats had created an impression that the ballot would be tilted in his favour.

He maintained the lead until the last lap of counting, but ended as runner up. In the 2011 Assembly elections, Rajagopal had faced the same fate, but against the CPM candidate.

Rajagopal has been elected twice to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh from 1992 and 1998. He became a Union minister of state under the Vajpayee government in 1999 and was credited with contributing to Kerala’a railway development.

During Jana Sangh days, he was its national executive council member from 1964 to 1967 and closely worked with Sangh founder Deendayal Upadhyay. In 1977, he became Janata Party’s state secretary. He made his electoral debut in 1980 from Kasargode. In 2012, he had fought a byelection to the state assembly.

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Many in the BJP feel that Rajagopal would have emerged winner if a large number of Nadar community votes had not gone to Tharoor. Nadar is the single largest community bloc in Thiruvananthapuram, where Rajagopal’s upper class Hindus too has significant presence. Left candidate Bennet Abraham, a Nadar, did not bring in the expected consolidation.