Thiruvananthapuram: With deadline for withdrawing nomination papers over, election campaign in the state catches steam. Given that Assembly elections are only a few months now, the upcoming local body polls are set to be all-time fierce and fiery. Coming days therefore will spell charged political campaigns across the state, without difference to its rural or urban stretches.
Development feats from LIFE to KIIFB are weapons in LDF arsenal, while UDF and BJP have smokescreen of controversies and allegations for cover. UDF‘s performance with its changed composition will be watched closely. Infiltration of rebels and payment seat allegations have bogged it down already.
Dispute between Congress and Muslim League - the two major parties of UDF- have not cooled yet despite the nomination withdrawal date ending. Rolling back the “Vote Against Corruption” slogan no sooner than it launched, has left UDF considerably embarrassed. The front is also grappling with arrests of its former minister in the Palarivattom flyover case and MLA Kamaruddin in jewelry scam apart from the Vigilance case against Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala for allegedly accepting Rs 1 crore in bribe from Biju Ramesh.
Ready on all counts
LDF has positioned itself firm without friction whatsoever on its seat sharing and candidate selection front. Kerala Congress(M), Lok Tantrik and Janata Dal are new entrants this time around. The additions have served to spike zeal and renewed vigor to its battle. People’s recognition for the government’s huge developmental strides is helping bolster the LDF further.
UDF fearful of dissent
Congress is pounded by fights over candidate selection in all districts with Congress contesting against Muslim League not being an uncommon sight at several places. Under hand ties with Welfare Party and other terror outfits is becoming increasingly exposed.
In Venjaramoodu Division of Thiruvananthapuram District Panchayat, KPCC president is accused of pulling back the candidate canvassing the area and prop another in his place. Similarly at Corporation, the Congress’s woman candidate was ousted and replaced with an outsider. In both cases, the swap is seen as a result of payment seat deal forged by senior leaders. In Kollam such deals are said to have occurred in at least ten wards there. In Malappuram, party workers protested gathering in front of DCC office there.
BJp Riding Money Wave
Infighting and cash-for-votes is hallmark of BJP. The party is reeling under scams beginning with medical college bribery to fraud involving Kummanam Rajashekaran. If that was not enough, several party seniors including Shoba Surendran are boycotting election campaign alltogether.
