Ahead of the April 9 Assembly elections in Kerala, a common sentiment resonates among coastal villages: "Whoever forms the government, we will continue to live the same life, struggling in the sea."
This sentiment reflects a sense of neglect among fishermen, who believe that political parties have largely overlooked their concerns.
The majority of fishermen in Kerala, primarily from the Latin Catholic community (around 20 lakh), do not function as a unified voting bloc, but the Church does influence their political decisions.
"The Latin fishing community in Kerala will wait for political parties' manifestos before deciding whom to vote for," said Fr Eugene Pereira, Vicar General of the Thiruvananthapuram Latin Archdiocese, to
