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Sand mafia has taken over Chathannur: LDF candidate

Staff Reporter

Thampan refutes Congress complicity

KOLLAM: Issues such as water scarcity, the reign of sand `mafia' and the progress of Chathannur constituency during the past five years were focussed upon at a meet-the-candidates programme for the constituency organised by the Kollam Press Club here on Wednesday.

The LDF candidate from Chathannur constituency N. Anirudhan alleged that during the UDF rule there was a lay off at the Chathannur Spinning Mills. However, the sitting MLA and UDF candidate Pratapavarma Thampan said the lay off was on account of a generator developing a mechanical problem. He said the lay off would be lifted after the problem was rectified. Mr. Anirudhan said it was, perhaps, the first instance in which a company came under a lay off on such grounds.

Mr. Anirudhan said that during the past five years, a good portion of the constituency had come under the grip of the sand `mafia.' Paddy fields and the course of the Ithikara River through the constituency seem to have been taken over by the sand mafia. He alleged that the mafia had strong ties with a section of the Congress. The sand mafia operations had resulted in acute water scarcity in the constituency.

Mr. Thampan countered Mr. Anirudhan's argument and alleged that the CPI in the constituency had strong links with the mafia.

The BJP candidate Muralidharan Pillai said the LDF and the UDF had added to the woes of the people in Chathannur. He said the UDF and the LDF had failed to honour their promises to the voters. The voters would now help the BJP improve its position in Chathannur in the elections.

Mr. Thampan said he was confident that the UDF would come to power by winning 101 seats this time and that Chathannur would be one of those seats. Asked about the opposition of some Congressmen to his candidature,

Mr. Thampan said that such developments were common in the Congress and that it would not affect his chances of winning.

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