Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Chennithala focussing on development issues

By Radhakrishnan Kuttoor

PATHANAMTHITTA, APRIL 30. A professional orchestra troupe was performing at a high pitch at a street-corner in Mankamkuzhy, near Mavelikara. Verses were strictly political, lauding the performance of the UDF candidate, Ramesh Chennithala, who was also the sitting MP from Mavelikara.

The troupe began winding up its brief session when a jeep sped past announcing the arrival of the motorcade of Mr. Ramesh Chennithala. The troupe moved to the next point and the stage was set for political briefing by a local Congress leader on the "relevance'' of the elections and the "grave need'' to elect the Congress candidate to the Lok Sabha to "check the BJP from retaining power'' at the Centre.

The public mood appeared to be frigid; those few who had remained on the roadside left as soon as the troupe moved to the next point. The motorcade of the candidate arrived at the spot with a bang in the next 10 minutes. Loudspeakers screamed: "Ramesh Chennithala, our leader, the son of Mavelikara... '' has reached the village, seeking votes from his "affectionate sisters, brothers and friends."

The entire atmosphere was charged with cracker bursts and the candidate was accorded a rousing reception by the party workers. Mr. Ramesh Chennithala walked along the street with folded hands and patting the shoulders of the familiar faces in the small crowd.

The candidate made a brief speech on the development projects initiated by him in the constituency in the past four-and-half years. A few party workers garlanded the candidate and presented shawls to him, which he later given away to children and elderly persons who were waiting on the wayside.

The motorcade moved to the next point to accept the reception organised by the local party workers there.

Mr. Ramesh Chennithala was found brimming with confidence as his open jeep moved along the rural road, braving the scorching sun.

"Common people are least interested in hearing the campaign speeches of our politicians. Unlike the poll campaigns in the past, the constituency tour by all the major contestants have failed to evoke any positive response from the general public,'' commented a youth who was standing near a wayside shop when the motorcade moved along.

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