While people in coastal areas of southern Kerala mourn the death of their beloved in Ockhi cyclone fury, political parties are locked in blame game.

While the CPI-M is on a damage control exercise to tone down the fury against the Pinarayi Vijayan government in handling Ockhi warnings and rescue operations, the Congress is trying to stir up the anti-government sentiments in the coastal belt.

But, the BJP, it seems, has been the quickest to react with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visiting Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. She assured that the search and rescue operation in the high seas will continue till all missing fishermen were brought back safe.

The BJP is now planning to build on to the positive response to Sitharaman's visit with a mega campaign focusing on the coastal belt in Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency.

FEEL-GOOD WAVE IN MODI's FAVOUR

"Politically, we have limited access in the coastal areas as it is controlled by Catholic Church. But Ockhi offered us a good opportunity to make a beginning in the areas. Thanks to CPI-M and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who messed up his visit in the cyclone-affected coastal areas, now there is a feel-good wave in favour of Modi government about the handling of the issues in the area. We are going to project that positive image with aggressive campaign," a senior BJP leader told India Today.

According to him, winning a vote bank in coastal areas is crucial for the BJP in Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency. In 2014 Lok Sabha election, coastal areas saved Congress nominee Shashi Tharoor as he scraped through with a narrow margin of 15,470 votes against BJP leader O Rajagopal.

"It was Catholic Church's support that helped Tharoor win at the last minute. So, now we will make all efforts to make inroads into the coastal belt," the BJP leader said.

NO LAPSES, SAYS KERALA GOVT

Social media campaign has already started highlighting the Left Front government's lapses in handling the disaster. Former Kerala chief minister V S Achuthanandan's visit to the cyclone-hit areas also put the CPI-M on the defensive as he received an emotional welcome from the fishermen community.

Cyclone Ockhi hit the southern coast, killing at least 47 people in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Around 80 fishermen are missing in the storm. Chief Secretary K M Abraham, however, denied any lapse on the Kerala government's part in handling Ockhi cyclone warnings.

"We have taken all steps to alert various agencies and coordinated rescue operations in the most effective manner possible. Otherwise, the toll would have been more. Ifs and buts do not matter when you deal with an emergency disaster situation," Abraham told India Today.

The chief minister's office suspects that media is playing for vested interests groups to defame Pinarayi Vijayan.

"We have received cyclone alert on November 30. Since then, all departments collectively acted to deal with the situation. The chief minister personally took initiative to brief Union government and central agencies about the gravity of the situation. But, media started the blame game against the state government without verifying facts," a senior official in CMO told India Today.