Old rivals clash again in Nedumangad

By M. Dinesh Varma

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MAY 5. Personal charisma of the candidates will count as much as political undercurrents in deciding the fate of the Nedumangad constituency where familiar rivals of the UDF and LDF face each other once again in the forthcoming elections to the State Assembly.

In what is a virtual rematch of the 1996 elections, the sitting MLA, Mr. Palode Ravi of the Congress, is pitted against Mr. Mangode Radhakrishnan of the CPI as they woo an electorate of 1.82 lakhs for the electoral right to represent Nedumangad in the Eleventh Legislative Assembly.

The BJP, which has fielded Paruthippally Sreekumar, has the limited objective of increasing its tally from the votes it polled in 1996, when it had picked up 3,960 votes fielding Mr. Vellanchira Somashekharan Nair.

In their previous clash, Mr. Palode Ravi, had emerged victor securing 57,220 votes as against the 52,956 votes garnered by his nearest rival, Mr. Radhakrishnan, leaving a victory margin of 4,264 votes.

The 1996 election was the second time in as many bids that Mr. Palode Ravi was refashioning the script in a constituency that had been a firm LDF bastion.

That the Congress leader is turning out to be a thorn in the flesh for the rival front is evident in the fever-pitch electioneering of the LDF which is more than determined to wrest the seat back and restore traditional pro-Left loyalties in Nedumangad.

In an obvious sign of the LDF machinery throwing its weight firmly behind its candidate, a noisy motorcade of two-wheelers and mike-fitted cars and jeeps carrying fluttering red flags and posters are accompanying the LDF candidate as he criss-crosses the constituency.

Whether it is in Kanyakulangara or Mandapam, Nellikkunnu or Pottanpara, Mr. Mangode Radhakrishnan is exhorting the electorate to vote for change in Nedumangad. The necessity to carry forward the good work already initiated as part of the People's Plan Campaign is the main plank of the LDF campaign. The LDF is expecting an electoral reward for the housing schemes and basic amenities provided to backward colonies under the People's Plan Campaign.

Addressing voters at a small junction, a couple of kilometres from `28th mile', Mr. Radhakrishnan declares that he will not make tall promises but gives an assurance that if elected he would sincerely undertake a legislator's responsibilities.

``In spite of my defeat, you all know that I have been attending to each and every need of the constituency,'' he points out. There are sufficient hints that the elected representative had done precious little for the development of the constituency.

The LDF campaign is trying to discredit Mr. Palode Ravi's `personal contact' style of moving in the midst of the people as a gimmick and picturise him as a man of words than deeds.

However, the UDF candidate is no less confident as he flits through remote areas and busy junctions.

He says that voters know that his presence was always there even after being elected. The only significant developments that have taken place in Nedumangad in recent years have been the installation of a revenue tower and commissioning of the European Union-aided international horticultural market during his first tenure (1991-96) with the UDF in power, he says.

Mr. Ravi also claims credit for the vast improvement in transport services in Nedumangad, which is today well connected with city bus services. The LDF, in contrast, has nothing to crow about, he feels.

The candidate has been signing off his campaign speeches with an emotional appeal. ``I have been with all of you in all times of need as a member of the family,'' Mr. Ravi says.

Both candidates are following an unrelenting schedule with the campaigning starting early and ending late in the night. The electorate in Nedumangad totals 1,82,591, including 93,935 women, 87,604 and 1052 service voters.

As for the balance of power in the local bodies, the LDF controls the Nedumangad municipality along with the Vembayam, Karakulam, Aruvikkara and Vellanad panchayats while the Panavoor and Anad panchayats are with the UDF.

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Section  : State Elections
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