Kerala - Alappuzha   

LDF banks on woman power to capture Mavelikara

A. Harikumar

Sitting MLA M. Murali takes on first-timer B. Rajamma of CPI(M)

ALAPPUZHA: Congress leader M. Murali, sitting MLA of Mavelikara, is a politician who claims with pride that he is among the most accessible of MLAs in the State, a claim that is conceded even by his opponents.

When Mr. Murali contests for the fourth time from the constituency as the United Democratic Front candidate that is his main strength.

But his principal opponent, B. Rajamma of the CPI (M), an energetic woman leader who rose from the ranks of workers raises another question in reply to Mr. Murali's claims.

Did the MLA do anything to start a single industry in the constituency or to solve the crisis that hit the agricultural sector?

In her speech, Ms. Rajamma, who is a good orator, points out that the success of an MLA should be measured on the basis of his ability to bring about over-all development in constituency.

BJP candidate K.P. Noushad also questions Mr. Murali's claims and observes that the MLA had failed on the development front.

But Mr. Murali, a veteran of many a battle, seems to be unperturbed. Pillion riding on a bike along with his friend he reaches everywhere in the constituency and carries on his campaign in the style he perfected over years successfully.

It was in 1991 that Mr. Murali contested in Mavelikara Assembly constituency for the first time.

Mr. Murali came there with a will to win after he was defeated in Haripad by-elections by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate A. V. Thamarakshan in 1989. Mr. Murali humbled the sitting MLA and LDF candidate S. Govinda Kurup.

Thereafter, Mr. Murali went on to win Assembly elections in 1996 and 2001. Mr. Murali's opponent was the NCP candidate in the last assembly elections.

This time the CPI(M) took back the seat from the NCP with the aim of recapturing the constituency. Though Ms. Rajamma is a first-timer in Assembly elections and not well-known in the constituency like Mr. Murali, the CPI(M) party machinery is working overtime to compensate for that.

Mavelikara MP C.S. Sujata is active in the campaign front and the CPI(M) is concentrating on women votes to overpower Mr. Murali.

While the Congress is ruling the Mavelikara municipality, the CPI(M) is in power in the grama panchayats in the constituency.

There are sections in the Congress who nurture a grudge against Mr. Murali. But the campaign managers of Mr. Murali point out that he has the right tactics to overcome the CPI(M) campaign.

The Nairs, Christians and Ezhavas are the main communities in the constituency.

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