KOCHI: With just over a month remaining for the Lok Sabha elections in Kerala, key figures from mainstream parties are set to converge on Ernakulam district to steer the political discourse in new directions. With the UDF and LDF fronts having announced their candidates well in advance of the official poll declaration, many candidates have completed first-round campaigning.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is scheduled to campaign for Ernakulam LDF candidate K J Shine on April 3, with public meetings planned at Marine Drive, Tripunithura and North Paravoor, according to LDF leaders.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi are expected to participate in campaign events for UDF candidates in the district. However, the BJP is yet to name its candidate for the Ernakulam constituency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already conducted a roadshow in the city, and subsequently addressing BJP’s Shakti Kendra in-charges at Marine Drive. Over the past seven days, Modi has addressed a public gathering in Pathanamthitta and led a roadshow in Palakkad, the latter after the election declaration. BJP leaders have indicated that the PM will hold additional rallies across the state, including a visit to Kochi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president J P Nadda and other top leaders also will arrive in the state.
LDF convener George Edaparathy said the front has intensified its campaigning in Ernakulam and Chalakudy constituencies.
“Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will address public meetings at Marine Drive, Tripunithura and Paravoor on April 3. His programme for the Chalakudy constituency is scheduled on April 12,” he said.
The LDF has fielded Shine, North Paravoor municipal councillor and CPM teachers’ union leader, against sitting MP Hibi Eden. Hibi won the seat for the Congress in the last election with a margin of 1,69,153 votes, having secured 4,91,263 votes (50.79%) against the 3,22,110 votes (33.3%) polled by CPM’s P Rajeeve.
Former Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam, the NDA candidate, finished a distant third securing 1,37,749 votes (14.24%). Kannanthanam lost his deposit since he failed to secure at least 16.66% of the total valid votes.
Unlike in Ernakulam, the campaigning is getting more momentum in Chalakudy with all three fronts – LDF, UDF and NDA – having declared their candidates. They have completed the first phase of campaigning.
The CPM has deputed former education minister C Raveendranath against sitting MP Benny Behanan to wrest the seat. BDJS leader K A Unnikrishnan is the NDA candidate.
The saffron party has also allocated the Idukki and Kottayam constituencies, both having their share of assembly segments in Ernakulam district, to its ally BDJS.
