The Hindu : Kerala News : A repeat contest, this time

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 16, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

A repeat contest, this time

By N.J. Nair

M.I. Shanavas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, APRIL 15. The Chirayinkeezhu Lok Sabha constituency is witnessing a repeat contest with the three major fronts selecting the same candidates they fielded in the last Lok Sabha election. The sitting MP, Varkala Radhakrishnan of the LDF, is pitted against the UDF candidate, M.I. Shanavas. The BJP has fielded J.R. Padma Kumar once again.

The seven Assembly segments that constitute the Chirayinkeezhu Lok Sabha constituency are Kazhakkoottam, Attingal, Varkala, Aryanad, Kilimanoor, Nedumangad and Vamanapuram. The UDF represents four and the LDF three Assembly segments. There are 52 panchayats and two municipalities. Of the total 10,21,521 electorates, 67.57 per cent are Hindus, 17.13 per cent Christians and 15.23 per cent Muslims.

J.R. Padma Kumar

Chirayinkeezhu, which has not shown any particular inclination to any political combination, had seen the fall of many veterans including the late Congress leader, R. Sankar, who was defeated by the CPI(M) leader, K. Anirudhan, in 1967.

Mr. Radhakrishnan, popularly known as `Annan', had defeated Mr. Shanavas by a margin of 3,134 votes in the last election. Mr. Radhakrishnan polled 3,09,304, Mr. Shanavas 3,06,170 and Mr. Padma Kumar 63,884 votes.

Mr. Radhakrishnan says that his familiarity with the constituency, the developmental works he had initiated using the MP's fund and his parliamentary performance would keep him in good stead. The LDF election machinery is in full gear and Mr. Radhakrishnan has already covered all the seven Assembly segments. Conventions were held thrice throughout the constituency. This is in addition to the squads engaged in door-to-door campaigning.

"The thrust of my campaign is on the evenly-spread infrastructure development initiatives. Due importance was given to improving the basic facilities in Government as well as aided schools. Construction of buildings taken up in 82 Government schools has helped to get rid of the shift system which was prevalent due to lack of classrooms. Five computers each were provided to Government schools for Rs. 45 lakhs. Top priority was given to health and drinking water projects, construction of roads and bridges," he says.

Mr. Shanavas, whom party workers affectionately refer to as Shaji, exudes confidence even as he is contesting for the second time. Mr. Shanavas says that he is acceptable to all groups in the party. He had started the ground work in mid-March itself.

"The differences of opinion among the party workers had been sorted out. Activists in all the 54 mandalam committees are involved in enrolling voters and they are working in a systematic manner," he says.

There were lapses in manning and monitoring the booths. The UDF machinery is now sparing no effort to make up for such defects. The UDF organised four conventions and all of them were a big draw. The people are aware that the crisis in the party has blown over. With the high command revoking the suspension of the Kazhakkoottam MLA, M.A. Vahid, his supporters too have started working for the party, Mr. Shanavas says.

Varkala Radhakrishnan

Mr. Padma Kumar is confident of increasing the vote share this time. The party has made deep inroads into places including Anchuthengu, Kadakkavoor and Vakkom, where it could not register its presence during the last election. Mr. Padma Kumar is focussing on the achievements of the NDA Government and the reported failure of both the fronts in mitigating the woes of the coir and plantation workers.

"I have toured the entire constituency and the response is encouraging. Conventions have been held successfully and the BJP squads are now calling on the voters. Being a native of Pothencode, I am very familiar with the constituency. As I had officiated as the district president of the party, I am aware of the problems being faced by the voters," he says.

The SNDP Yogam leader, Mohan Sankar, and the film actor, Shanavas, son of the late Prem Nazir, who recently joined the party, would start campaigning for Mr. Padma Kumar. Mr. Sankar has considerable clout among the members of the SNDP, the Sivagiri Madhom and Mr. Shanavas, a native of Chirayinkeezh has a lot of family relations and personal contacts. The BJP is planning to cash in on their contacts. Mr.Padma Kumar says that the intention is not just to remain in the fray but put up a tough fight.

All the three candidates claim to enjoy the support and cooperation of the NSS and the SNDP as well as those of other communities. Mr. Radhakrishnan says that he has warm relations with the sanyasins of Sivagiri Madhom and also the other communities. Mr. Shanavas hopes that the equidistant policy of the NSS would not affect his prospects. Mr. Padma Kumar has called on prominent leaders of the NSS and SNDP and sought their support.

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