Kerala - Alappuzha   

Where sand-mining, tsunami will have an echo

A. Harikumar

It is a close contest again in this politically conscious constituency

ALAPPUZHA: The Haripad Assembly constituency in the district is witnessing a close contest between T.K. Devakumar, MLA, of the Left Democratic Front and B. Babuprasad of the United Democratic Front (UDF).

Such tight contests between the two fronts is not new to this constituency, which has been in the news over a proposal to mine mineral-sand at Arattupuzha, a village devastated by the tsunami in December 2004.

The Bharatiya Janata Party candidate here is N. Chithramgadan. Mr. Devakumar, a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader, is known as an astute politician with organising skills and ability to win votes from the camp of the ruling front also. His active involvement in local issues has won him many friends and foes.

In 1996, as the election committee convener of the Left Front in the constituency, Mr. Devakumar helped ensure the victory of A.V. Thamarakshan of the Revolutionary Socialist Party. In the 2001 elections, when Mr. Thamarakshan contested as the UDF candidate, Mr. Devakumar routed him.

Mr. Babuprasad a former vice-president of the Youth Congress State unit, is known more for his activities in the cultural field. He had been a director of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation and has been secretary of P. Padmarajan (filmmaker) Trust. Known to be a confidant of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala, he is contesting the elections for the first time.

The sand-mining issue and rehabilitation of tsunami victims will be the main theme of campaign in the coastal areas of the constituency, especially Arattupuzha and Thrikkunnappuzha.

Mr. Devakumar and Mr. Babuprasad have declared their opposition to mining. The former alleges that the State Government has failed in the rehabilitation. Mr. Babuprasad counters that the Government had almost completed the rehabilitation, spending several crores of rupees on the work.

While the Harippad segment gave a lead of over 1,500 votes to V.M. Sudheeran, ruling front candidate in the Alappuzha constituency in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the Opposition front won a majority of grama panchayats in it in the recent local-body elections. Citing statistics, both fronts exude confidence.

Nairs and Ezhavas are the two major communities in the constituency. Efforts are on from both the fronts to get their support. But finally, it will be politics that will decide the outcome in this politically conscious constituency.

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