Anoop Jacob, the UDF candidate in Piravom, said on Wednesday that the by-poll there would be an assessment of the performance of the Oommen Chandy government as well as the development work done by the Congress-led ruling front in the constituency.

“I have been meeting the people in Piravom for the last three months and from their feedback I can say for sure that the people are with the UDF,” he said at a meet the press here.

Jacob added that the love of the people for his late father and former minister T.M. Jacob would also reflect in the poll outcome.

“In the last 35 years, the UDF has brought a lot of development to the constituency. But there is still more left to be done like better roads and the enhancement of drinking water projects. Taking these up will be my priority,” he said.

Jacob said that he was not a candidate of any particular church.

He also did not think that the differences between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions in the church would affect the prospects of the UDF in the polls.

“My aim will be to carry everyone along with me. Both factions also know that the government is keen to settle disputes in an amicable manner.”

He said that the thin majority of the UDF in the 2011 polls was not something that worried him. “My father could not cover the entire constituency in the last election due to poor health.”
Jacob also did not subscribe to the view that Congress inaction led to his father’s poor victory margin in the last polls.

Jacob reiterated that he was not fighting the polls hoping to become a minister.
“I will abide by any decision of the UDF in this matter,” he said.