Thiruvananthapuram: Travelling south from Alappuzha, you will come across hoardings and posters that give you an idea how the contest is shaping up here. Though posters and graffiti are crowding towns, the poll fever is strangely missing and many voters are wearing a detached look this season.
What is worrying all campaign managers is the conspicuous silence of voters in the south. The region seems to be unmoved by the raging controversies in the state.
When Kerala chose UDF in 2011, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta and Kollam stayed with the LDF. Thiruvananthapuram, as before, chose to go with the winner and gave the UDF a two-seat majority. As campaigns come to a close, the only wave visible is the one created by the NDA, but, whether it can win them a seat is debatable.
Alappuzha Internal issues in the CPM district unit – triggered by supporters of G Sudhakaran and T M Thomas Isaac – had created problems during candidate selection.
There were instances of party changing candidates several times in some constituencies, but, now LDF leaders swear that the party will win the district. The Congress could spring surprises in the form of candidates like S Sarath (Cherthala), Baiju Kalasala (Mavelikkara) and M Liju (Kayamkulam). The LDF has a clear edge in Alappuzha, Aroor, Mavelikkara and Ambalappuzha while the contest is tight in Cherthala and Kayamkulam. In Haripad, UDF’s Ramesh Chennithala is facing an unexpected challenge from CPI’s P Prasad. Chengannur and Kuttanad will be unpredictable because of the strong presence of NDA candidates.
While BDJS candidate Subhash Vasu is working overtime to stop the run of NCP’s Thomas Chandy in Kuttanad, BJP’s P S Sreedharan Pillai has neutralized whatever edge UDF candidate P C Vishnunath had in the beginning. The presence of UDF rebel Sobhana George also adds to Vishnunath’s woes here.
Pathanamthitta Though the LDF had a little edge in 2011, the contest is unpredictable now.
The fight between UDF and LDF in Thiruvalla and Adoor is tight, a triangular contest is visible in Ranni and Aranmula. Though LDF’s R Sanalkumar is campaigning hard in Konni, Congress leader Adoor Prakash still has the edge.
In Thiruvalla, the LDF is hoping that undercurrents may ensure one more term for JDS state president Mathew T Thomas. KC(M) leader Joseph M Puthussery is posing a stiff challenge, but, those in the UDF – who were upset over his candidature – are yet to fully endorse him. In Adoor, KK Shaju of Congress and CPI’s Chittayam Gopakumar are locked in a close contest.
BDJS candidate K Padmakumar’s strong campaign has made Ranni an unpredictable constituency. If he spoils to CPM’s Raju Abraham’s dream for a fifth consecutive win, it will mean ‘a chance’ for Congress candidate Mariamma Cherian whom local Congress workers considered a weak candidate initially. In Aranmula, there is a triangular contest between MLA K Sivadasan Nair, CPM’s Veena George and BJP’s M T Ramesh.
Kollam In 2011, Kollam supported the LDF and sent nine MLAs to the assembly. The one major change this time is that RSP, which fought for the LDF, is now with the UDF and the contest has become a prestige issue for RSP. Except for the close contest between both fronts at Chavara, Eravipuram, Kundara and Karunagappally, the LDF has a visible edge.
In Chavara, CMP candidate N Vijayan Pillai is determined to stop RSP leader Shibu Baby John. In Eravipuram CPM’s M Naushad is giving RSP state secretary MLA A A Aziz a run for his money while in Kundara firebrand Congress leader Rajmohan Unnithan has become a threat to CPM’s J Mercykutty Amma. The starry contest in Pathanapuram is likely to move in favour of K B Ganesh Kumar.
ThiruvananthapuramIt is the only district where the real feel of triangular contest is visible and the BJP hopes to open an account here. In six of the 14 constituencies – Nemom, Vattiyoorkavu, Kazhakoottam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kattakkada and Kovalam – the contest is unpredictable. The BJP is pinning hopes on O Rajagopal to win at Nemom.
With MLA V Sivankutty and UDF’s V Surendran Pillai in the fray, the contest is tense.
A similar situation is visible in Vattiyoorkavu, Kattakkada and Kazhakoottam where BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan and former presidents P K Krishnadas and V Muraleedharan are contesting. In Kovalam, BDJS candidate T N Suresh is posing a stiff challenge to LDF’s sitting MLA Jameela Prakasam and Congress candidate M Vincent.
In Attingal, Chirayinkeezhu, Vamanapuram and Parassala, LDF has the edge while UDF is ahead in Varkala, Aruvikkara and Neyyattinkara.