IDUKKI: Whose turn it will be in Devikulam next? The current political scenario in the reservation seat is not favourable to any of the heavyweights. It is yet to see who - sitting MLA S Rajendran or former legislator A K Mani - will benefit from the presence of Pembilai Orumai and AIADMK candidates besides the BJP candidate.
The UDF had first named Congress block secretary R Rajaram and then D Kumar as its candidate. However, when the list was finalised, it was A K Mani once again. A three-time MLA, Mani was the choice of the INTUC which has a strong say in Devikulam, a plantation area. However, it won’t be an easy task for him to win the election as he had to face the heat from the plantation labourers during the Pembilai Orumai stir that brought Munnar to a standstill.
Similarly, CPM sitting MLA S Rajendran also had to face the ire of the women labourers who alleged inaction on his part in resolving their issues. The fact that there was a clear lead of 9,121 votes for the LDF in the Parliament elections is giving a hope for the front. Rajendran had defeated Mani in the past two elections from the constituency.
However, presence of others, especially the Pembilai Orumai, is expected to dampen their prospects as both of them will lose their respective anti votes. Chances are high for these votes going to Orumai, AIADMK and BJP candidates.
The Orumai, which had bagged two Munnar panchayats and Devikulam block in the recent local body elections, has fielded its general secretary J Rajeswary.
The AIADMK that won in two of the Devikulam panchayats in the LSG elections has fielded former CPM Chinnakkanal panchayat president Dhanalakshmi. Around 60 per cent of the population of the constituency is Tamil, belonging to mainly Pallar and Parayar castes, which is being utilised by the Tamil Nadu ruling party.
Meanwhile, the BJP has selected former Congress MLA Kittappa Narayana Swami’s younger brother N Chandran as NDA candidate. In the past 12 Assembly elections, Devikulam had stood with the LDF for seven times and with the UDF for five times.
The panchayats coming under Devikulam constituencies are Adimali, Marayur, Munnar, Pallivasal, Bisonvalley, Kanthallur, Mankulam, Vattavada, Vellathooval, Chinnakkanal, Devikulam and Edamalakudy.