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Campaign gains momentum in Attingal

N.J. Nair

Candidates meet voters personally in a bid to garner votes

ATTINGAL: On Sunday morning at Azhoor panchayat in Attingal Assembly segment, a motley group of men, women and children awaits the arrival of Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate Anathalavattom Anandan.

When a car approaches, announcing the arrival of Mr. Anandan, the enthusiastic crowd steps forward with garlands.

Soon, the LDF candidate arrives in an open jeep waving at the crowd. They, in turn, greet him with slogans. Most of the people are coir workers. Mr. Anandan engages in informal talk with them.

"I am your fellow-traveller who had held this flag and fought for your wage hike from 50 paise to Rs.72 a day. There aren't many like me who are aware of the travails of your life. In the course of our struggle to better your lot, we were imprisoned and false charges foisted on us. But we refused to relent and are determined to continue the fight against those who deprive us of our due. This election, too, is part of our struggle. Let's march together," he says.

He speaks about the crisis gripping the traditional industries, especially coir. Mr. Anandan adds that the homes of the coir workers were stacked up with coir owing to the absence of proper marketing techniques — a proof of the Government's apathy and failure in redressing their grievances. His speech touches upon various issues such as the attempt to sell out natural resources of the State, poverty, lack of medicines in local hospitals, anomalies in distributing the BPL and APL cards and the comparatively high participation of women in the campaign meetings. He promises 100 per cent hike in the pension for coir and farm workers. At the next venue, a septuagenarian woman garlands Mr. Anandan and squats on the road to listen to him. He exchanges pleasantries with her and delivers a brief speech. Soon, the women begin to voice their grievances and the interaction extends. The campaign managers try to interrupt and persuade Mr. Anandan to cut short his speech. He winds up his speech and the crowd promises to vote for him.

Elsewhere, a group of activists, led by a Khadi-clad United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate C. Mohana Chandran, is on a whirlwind tour of the constituency to meet the voters personally. The trail begins at 8 p.m. After meeting the salesmen of a medical shop at Government Hospital junction in Chirayinkeezh, he walks into a nearby hotel. The cashier and those at the dining tables stand up to greet Mr. Mohana Chandran. He clasps their hands and says: "I seek your votes and blessings. Please do not forget my symbol. I will always be one among you." Mr. Mohana Chandran then walks up to an elderly woman and introduces himself. "I am looking forward to your guidance and cooperation. Will you vote for me?" he says. She smiles in consent. After spending 15-odd minutes, he moves on to the next location. The campaign managers of the UDF have arranged all the public receptions in the afternoon. The schedule gives Mr. Mohana Chandran enough time to meet the voters in the forenoon. BJP candidate Kizhuvillam Radhakrishnan is yet to make his presence felt in the Attingal constituency.

Both fronts seem to be treading cautiously to avoid punitive action for violating the model code set by the Election Commission. The vigil maintained by the Commission observers has had a telling effect on the tenor of the campaign.

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