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Hectic campaigning by rival fronts

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

Varkala : With electioneering entering the crucial phase, the rival fronts are engaged in hectic campaigning in Varkala Assembly constituency where the Congress candidate and sitting MLA Varkala Kahar (UDF) takes on CPI(M)'s S. Sundaresan (LDF).

Development issues take prominence over politics in this Assembly constituency, which has a large number of Non-resident Keralites (NoRKs). It is a tough fight between the two leaders who know the pulse of the electorate.

The LDF is making all-out efforts to wrest the "red fortress" from Mr. Kahar by projecting the "anti-people policies" of the UDF Government and trying to cash in on the anti-incumbency factor. The UDF, on the other hand, hopes to retain the seat by highlighting the development initiatives taken up in the constituency during Mr. Kahar's tenure as legislator.

Although 11 candidates, including S. Sivaprasad of the BJP, are in the fray, only the campaigns of the LDF and UDF candidates are visible. With only five days left for the polls, campaign managers are busy chalking out strategies to counter their rival. Both Mr. Kahar and Mr. Sundaresan, who are relying on their personal and local contacts, have completed several rounds of visits to every nook and cranny of the constituency and are on the last leg of their tour.

Campaigning using loud speakers has picked high decibel levels. Vehicles bearing party flags and colourful posters of the respective candidates are criss-crossing the constituency. Banners and graffiti have been less in the Assembly segment compared to the previous elections, mainly on account of monitoring by election officials. On Sunday, the defacement squad led by the Assistant Returning Officer was seen videographing posters pasted en route the underpass and other public places and removing them.

The LDF candidate Mr. Sundaresan, who is on the last leg of his campaign in an open jeep, toured the Elakamon panchayat on Sunday. He was presented with red garlands and ribbons by the crowds. Their enthusiam had not waned in spite of the scorching heat. In the far-flung Ooninmmoodu junction, Mr. Sundaresan was greeted with slogans.

Mr. Sundaresan interacted with the crowds and visited a few nearby houses. In his address, he talked about his college days and how as an SFI activist, he had worked for candidates put up by the CPI(M) and the LDF for the last 35 years in Varkala Assembly segment and Chirayinkeezh Lok Sabha constituency. Mr. Sundaresan said he had always been in the forefront of the campaign with senior leaders, including Susheela Gopalan and Varkala Radhakrishnan. "Except for the election to the University Union, this is my debut contest in the general elections," he said.

The LDF candidate charged the UDF Government with pursuing "anti-people policies" during the last five years, and pushing traditional industries and the education sector in the State to the brink of a crisis. "The opinion surveys have projected a victory for the LDF, but we have to see whether we will get 93 or 103 seats," he says. He winds up his speech and interacts with party activists before moving to the next junction in a motorcade.

The Congress candidate Mr. Kahar undertook house visits in residential colonies and private educational institutions on Sunday morning. He had completed the tour of five panchayats falling under the Assembly segment by Sunday. Mr. Kahar, a prominent INTUC leader, travels in the open jeep in the evening on his campaign tour. The tour will be completed by April 19.

Mr. Kahar, who toured Edava along with his supporters, returned to Cheruniyoor to hold a review of the campaign and to work out strategies. On spotting a group of youth, he approached them and requested them to vote for him. "I need no introduction among the voters. I have initiated several projects in the constituency during the last five years. The electorate will not ditch me," a confident Mr. Kahar says.

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