Kerala - Alappuzha   

LDF raises stiff challenge to UDF in Chengannur

A. Harikumar

Social organisations hold the key in the constituency

ALAPPUZHA: The CPI(M) is trying hard to capture the Chengannur Assembly constituency in the district, which had returned UDF candidates on a majority of occasions from 1980.

The DIC(K) leader Shobhana George, who is now contesting from the Thiruvananthapuram West constituency, had won the last three Assembly polls from here as the UDF candidate.

The LDF candidate in the constituency is Saji Cherian, who is well known as a leader of the DYFI in the district and is presently the district committee member of the CPI(M).

KSU president P.C. Vishnunath is the UDF candidate. BJP district president Mannar Satish is the party candidate here.

The political situation in Chengannur is much different from the other constituencies in the district because of the strong presence of the BJP here, which has the power to make the contest a three-cornered one.

The Kerala Congress (Mani) has also got strong presence in the constituency.

The various Christian churches and the NSS have also got decisive influence.

Mr. Cheriyan represents the youth face of the CPI(M). He is a leader who hails from the constituency and has contacts with all sections of society. The campaign managers of Mr. Cheriyan feel that his contacts will stand him in good stead in the elections.

The UDF leaders point out that Mr. Cheriyan's dream will remain unfulfilled as Mr. Vishnunath with his clean image is attracting voters.

They point out that in the local body elections, when the UDF suffered a humiliating defeat in the district, its candidates won from the two district panchayat divisions in the constituency.

The BJP has members in several grama panchayats in the constituency and party leaders pointed out that the party had won around 23,000 votes in the local body elections in various panchayats and the Chengannur Municipality in the constituency.

It was initially thought that there would be rumblings in the Congress against Mr. Vishnunath's candidature as he hails from outside the constituency. But the Congress leadership seems to have succeeded in uniting the Congressmen in the constituency.

The LDF leaders pointed out that Ms. Shobhana George had neglected the constituency completely and the ire of the people against the neglect would help the LDF candidate.

Mr. Satheesh feels that the voters of Chengannur are fed up with both the fronts and the lotus will bloom this time.

Along with politics and issues of development, the support of social organisations like the NSS, SNDP and churches will decide the outcome in Chengannur.

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