The Hindu : Kerala News : Rival fronts making good use of exit poll results

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 01, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Rival fronts making good use of exit poll results

By N.J. Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, APRIL 30. As the second phase of campaigning for the Lok Sabha election reaches its peak, the LDF candidate, Varkala Radhakrishnan, the UDF candidate, M.I. Shanavas, and the BJP candidate, J.R. Padma Kumar, appear to be evenly matched in Chirayinkeezhu.

Mr. Radhakrishnan and Mr. Padma Kumar appear to have the advantage of entering the fray much earlier than Mr. Shanavas and they are sustaining the tempo of the campaign. Mr. Shanavas too is not sparing any effort. The presence of prominent leaders like M.A. Vahid, MLA, and Palode Ravi, has added more strength to the UDF campaign.

While the LDF and the UDF campaign managers are citing the exit poll results to argue that the trend is in their favour, the BJP is confident of putting up an impressive show on the strength of the deep inroads the party has made into the traditional LDF and UDF bastions in the constituency. They argue that such poll predictions have gone wrong and need not be considered as the last word in such elections.

The accent of Mr. Radhakrishnan's campaign is on the development works he had initiated in the constituency using the MP's local area development fund, especially in the education and health sectors. The LDF is highlighting the problems in the agriculture sector, the suicides of farmers due to the mounting debt burden and the crisis in the cashew and coir sectors. Mr. Radhakrishnan has adopted a highly personalised style of campaigning. He has toured the constituency thrice and is making an endeavour to meet maximum voters. The support of the PDP, he hopes will help improve his margin.

The differences of opinion in the Congress and the exit poll results are being used favourably by the LDF. The LDF leaders are using the corner meetings to drive home the point that the exit poll predictions are not in favour of the BJP and in the event of a hung Parliament, the CPI(M) would have a decisive say. They also stress the need for returning an experienced parliamentarian like Mr. Radhakrishnan.

The UDF campaigners too are quoting the exit poll results to their benefit. They stress the need to ensure the victory of Mr. Shanavas to help the Congress form a stable Government in the wake of the changes in the national scenario. The welfare and developmental measures of the State Government are being projected by the UDF campaigners. The senior leaders, including Mr. Ravi, are taking instant steps to overcome the inadequacies in the campaigning. Prominent leaders and workers of all factions in the Congress are actively involved in the campaign and this unity is expected to improve the performance of Mr. Shanavas in the coming days.

The thrust of Mr. Padma Kumar's campaign is on the achievements of the NDA Government in the economic, Defence and agriculture sectors. He also mentions the failure of the UDF Government in utilising the Central funds. Mr. Padma Kumar and the BJP cadre say that they have gained an edge over the rival fronts through systematic campaigning.

Unlike in the last elections, the party machinery has succeeded in reaching even to remote places, especially the Congress and the CPI(M) strongholds, where it could not make any impact earlier.

Other than the receptions charted out by the BJP election committee, Mr. Padma Kumar is compelled to get down at many unscheduled stops in the course of his tour and this is being pointed out by the BJP leaders as proof of the strength the party has gained in the constituency over the past four years. The cadres of the RSS and the Hindu Aikya Vedi are actively campaigning for Mr. Padma Kumar.

All the three candidates claim to enjoy the support of the NSS, SNDP and the minority communities. The lukewarm response of the public to campaign which has gained momentum in the past few days, seems to be annoying all the parties. They are expecting a change in the trend in the next few days.

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