Rival fronts battle it out in Kerala by-polls
By IANSFriday, October 30, 2009
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - With less than a week left for campaigning to end for Nov 7 by-polls in Kerala, gloves are off between the Congress and Communist-led fronts for the political battle.
The polls for Kannur, Ernakulam and Alappuzha assembly seats are being held as incumbent legislators were elected to the Lok Sabha in April-May general elections.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has the unique record of never losing a by-poll while in power. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), euphoric after the Lok Sabha poll success, will be looking to retain all the three seats.
The most bitter battle is at Kannur, where the Election Commission had to intervene and remove District Collector V.K. Balakrishnan following complaints from the Congress that he was acting at the behest of ruling Left DF.
In Kannur, two-time CPI-M legislator M.V. Jayarajan is pitted against his former colleague and two-time MP A.P. Abdulla Kutty, who joined the Congress after the Marxist party expelled him.
Vaikom Viswan, the LDF convenor, said: “Now things are much different and we are a cohesive unit. We are putting an united election fight this time.”
In Ernakulam, the Congress has fielded former state minister and three-time legislator Dominic Presentation, while the CPI-M has put up P.N. Seenulal.
Meanwhile at Alappuzha, second biggest LDF constituent, the Communist Party of India has fielded G. Krishnaprasad and the Congress has put up district president A.A. Shukur.
Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Oommen Chandy said: “The Lok Sabha polls saw the Left getting a rude jolt and this time too it won’t be any different because they fail to learn from their mistakes.”
In the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress-led UDF won 16 of the state’s 20 parliamentary seats.
