A blaring microphone announces the arrival of Ningalude naatyangal illaatha naattukkaran (your fellow native without theatrics), drawing a loud applause from the sizeable crowd that has gathered at the Vellayani junction. Soon enough, Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha segment C. Divakaran makes an entry in his campaign vehicle to solicit their support at the polls.
At the heart of the campaign strategy employed by the veteran CPI leader against the incumbent Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, an “outsider”, is an emphasis on being a son of the soil.
Well into the third phase of its campaign, the LDF camp has evidently sought to reap benefits by pitching Mr. Divakaran’s “local connect”, a plan that appears to have garnered support in various parts of the constituency. Seventy-five-year-old Rosamma of Palappooru, near Vellayani, who braved the searing heat as she waited for her turn in presenting the candidate with a red towel, is confident of his victory. “He is one of our own. I am sure he will correct a mistake we made five years ago,” she says.
Coastal areas
On the other hand, United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Shashi Tharoor, who has developed quite a loyal support base in the region over 10 years, has pulled out all the stops as he attempts to win his third successive electoral battle from the constituency.
Aiming at preserving its traditional vote base, the UDF has undertaken several whirlwind tours of the coastal areas.
Along expected lines, the Congress candidate has managed to generate a certain euphoria among the fishing community.
Maryadas of Pozhiyoor, where Mr. Tharoor halted for lunch at a fisherman’s house, expressed optimism at the Congress candidate’s chances at the polls.
“He stood by our community during the (Cyclone) Ockhi tragedy. He has also highlighted our woes in Parliament. Notwithstanding which party he represents, none of us can ignore such facts,” he said.
Despite a late entry to the fray, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Kummanam Rajasekharan has covered much ground in electioneering.
Aim for victory
The former Bharatiya Janata Party State unit chief, a familiar face for many in the region, hopes to better his performance from the previous Assembly elections when he had come second in the Vattiyurkavu constituency.
Basing his campaign on the “stunted growth” of the State capital, Mr. Rajasekharan blames the successive State governments and former people’s representatives of the region for failing to tap its potential.
Concurring with the argument at a reception organised at Marappalam in the city, many youths felt that only a Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre could trigger rapid growth in the region.