The prospects of the Congress and the BJP might not be that bright in the rest of the state, but when it comes to Kanyakumari, it is going to be a mini re-run of the Lok Sabha 2014 elections.

Kanyakumari has always been a Congress stronghold, but that began to change with the 2011 assembly elections. The party won three seats. But, with the BJP sending an MP from the constituency to the Lok Sabha in 2014, and after its tremendous show in the local body elections, the Congress has yet another opponent to compete with, this time.

The BJP’s source of optimism stems from the fact that both the AIADMK and the DMK are likely to split the Christian vote in the five constituencies, which will help the party consolidate the Hindu vote.

Sensing trouble, Congress has fielded big names in the constituencies, including sitting MLAs Vijayadharani and J.G Prince, who seek re-elections from Vilavankodu and Colachel respectively. They will face the BJP’s C. Dharmaraj and Kumari Pa Ramesh in their respective constituencies.

BJP MP from Kanyakumari and Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan believes that the party’s promise to establish the long-pending commercial harbour is drawing positive response from the voters.