“From Loyalty to Leadership: Eby Kuriakose’s Defining Battle”

Eby Kuriakose, a true homegrown son of Chengannur, has finally been given the opportunity to
represent the people he has steadfastly served for over four decades. Known as a loyalist to the
party and its visionary leadership, his journey reflects patience, perseverance, and quiet
dedication.

He shared a particularly close bond with the late Oommen Chandy, who took a keen interest in
mentoring him as a future leader. Yet, as many who were close to Chandy would attest, such
proximity often came with an unspoken expectation that is to wait, endure, and remain steadfast
without immediate reward. For Eby Kuriakose, that long wait has finally come to an end. His
moment has arrived and the time is now.

Eby now faces a formidable opponent in Saji Cherian, the incumbent, whose political persona
has been shaped on the rough-and-tumble edges of party life within the Communist Party of
India (Marxist). Cherian’s rise reflects a style honed less through polish and more through
persistence in the gritty realities of grassroots politics. The posters circulating against him
attempt to cast him in a negative light, even as a caricature of someone who might be seen as
embodying an “ends justify the means” approach.

At the same time, Eby represents a generational shift. Active in local party organization and
deeply rooted in the region, he brings both familiarity and a renewed energy to the contest. His
focus on local development, infrastructure, and welfare concerns aligns closely with the
everyday priorities of the electorate.

Chengannur has long stood out as one of the most competitive constituencies in Kerala, marked
by tight margins and shifting voter preferences. In such a landscape, candidate profile and
grassroots connect often prove decisive. This context helps explain how even strong candidates
in the past have faltered against Cherian, who has meticulously built and sustained a formidable
local base.

In the 2021 election, Cherian reinforced that dominance with an emphatic victory margin of over
32,000 votes. This time, with the Bharatiya Janata Party fielding Gopakumar, a relatively
unknown figure from outside the constituency, the contest appears largely bipolar, between Saji
Cherian and Eby Kuriakose. Was it intentional by the BJP to field a weak candidate, and that
question remains to be answered?

The United Democratic Front has arguably made a strategic choice by fielding Eby, projecting
youthfulness and a fresh face. However, taking on the entrenched and well-oiled machinery of
the Left Democratic Front within a short span of three weeks is undeniably a herculean task.
That said, a broader anti-incumbency sentiment across Kerala introduces an element of
unpredictability. In a constituency like Chengannur, even a modest swing in voter sentiment can
prove decisive. Whether Eby Kuriakose can harness that potential wave remains to be seen.
Timing, momentum, and last mile connect will likely determine the outcome.

P.S> I want to express my gratitude to Professor Thampy Mathew from Chicago and Mr. John
Varghese from Georgia for accompanying me with the Eby Kuriakose tour of the constituency.