Candidates hit campaign trail

Stage set for three-cornered contest in Chengannur byelection

The electioneering for the Chengannur Assembly byelection is gradually gaining momentum.

Although the initial enthusiasm was lost due to the uncertainty over the election date, the vitality has somewhat returned to the political parties. Braving the scorching heat, candidates of all three major fronts, accompanied by party cadres have intensified campaigning and are meeting voters at their doorsteps and attending various functions.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF), United Democratic Front (UDF) and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have all announced their candidates ahead of time, making it a triangular fight in Chengannur.

LDF has fielded CPI (M) leader Saji Cherian. For him the bypoll is a battle to retain the seat wrested by LDF from the UDF in the 2016 election. The LDF is banking on the good works carried out by the Pinarayi Vijayan led-LDF government during the last two years.

UDF candidate D. Vijayakumar, who belongs to the Congress is hopeful of regaining the constituency, once known as a safe seat for the Congress. The UDF camp hopes that the anti incumbency factor would work in its favour.

Making it a triangular fight is the BJP leader and the NDA candidate P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, who came a close third in the 2016 election. After spreading the party’s footprints with resounding victory in the recently concluded Assembly elections in the North-East, the BJP is hoping to create a wave in the last Left bastion in the country.

However,the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), a constituent of the NDA is disenchanted with the BJP and is staying away from the campaigning. Meanwhile, both the UDF and LDF are eagerly waiting for the political line taken by the Kerala Congress (M) in the bypoll. Of the 10 panchayats and one municipality in the Chengannur Assembly constituency, four local bodies and the Chengannur municipality are ruled by the UDF. LDF is in power in four panchayats. Thiruvanvandoor panchayat is under the rule of the Kerala Congress (M). The NDA has 34 members in 10 panchayats and three councillors in the Chengannur municipality.