THALASSERY: She has an aura around herself. For many, she is ‘teacher amma’ who, as the state health minister, took care of the people with a motherly touch during the Covid pandemic.
K K Shailaja, the LDF candidate from Vadakara, undoubtedly holds a high place in the minds of the people and instantly strikes an emotional chord with the crowd. The CPM zeroed in on her to contest from Vadakara with only one aim — to regain its lost citadel.
The central theme of the last leg of Shailaja’s campaign is the cyber attacks unleashed on her. “I have fought many elections but I have never seen such a demeaning campaign in my entire political career,” she said, addressing enthusiastic supporters assembled at Azheekal beach as she began her campaign in Thalassery.
“We don’t know what is in store as the election day is fast approaching. The opponents may be manufacturing more lies in their factories,” she said. The CPM central committee member didn’t hide her displeasure over the way the media handled the cyber attacks on her.
“The online page of a reputed newspaper was forged to create fake news about me. But there was no response from the journalist community. What would have been the reaction if it was done by the LDF,” she said at a Meet-the-Candidate programme organised by the Thalassery Press Forum.
While addressing the crowd at the Thalassery old bus stand, Shailaja repeated her apprehensions on the possibility of more cyber attacks. “My political adversaries had misused the name of a spiritual leader to create fake news about me. They said I had said certain things against the Prophet (Muhammad) whom I hold in high regard,” she said.
Expressing concerns over the threat being faced by the country’s secular fabric, she said, “In Kerala, everyone can have their own faith or food habits. It is because of the strong presence of the Left in the state. But things are different in areas which are ruled by the Congress and the BJP. That is why we say the Left should be strengthened.”
