Kochi: Workers of the political fronts in Kalamassery municipality which has 42 wards, are engaged in at-tempts to make last-minute forays into each other’s vote base while consolidating their own votes in the run up to D-Day on Thursday.
Though the municipality is considered pro-UDF, this time things are not easy with the anti-incumbency factor making an impact apart from the fact that there are rebels contesting in over half a dozen constituencies. In one constituency where the BJP has fielded former Navy Queen runner-up and BTech student Henna Maria Kennedy, the UDF faces three rebels and the BJP is hopeful of springing a surprise.
The current municipal chairman of Kalamassery municipality Jamal Manakkadan faces stiff opposition from various quarters because of his style of functioning. He reportedly does not share a good equation with the local MLA and minister V.K. Ibrahim Kunju and the League which is coming in the way of the chances of the UDF.
Interestingly, Mr Jamal has toed the line of Bihar leader Lalu Prasad Yadav and has fielded wife Rukiya Jamal in ward number 24. She is tipped to be the next chairperson if UDF retains the municipality, as the chairperson post is reserved for a woman. The LDF has fielded Henny Baby in ward number 16 and has positioned her as the chairperson candidate. Things seem to be easy for Henny in the ward.
But things are not easy for Rukiya Jamal as Works Standing Committee chairperson in the Jamal Manakkadan dispensation Valsamma Rajan is contesting in ward number 24 after crossing over to the BJP. Saramma Mathew, central board for workers education ex-regional director, is the LDF candidate in the ward. Another hopeful BJP candidate is former councilor M. Nandakumar contesting from ward number 39 (Vattekkunnam) who also crossed over to the party from the Congress.
An interesting contest is taking place in ward number 25 where the Congress official candidate is facing an equally strong rebel. LDF and BJP have candidates with the same name - E.V. Girish Kumar (LDF) facing BJP’s Girish Kumar. The UDF candidate is P.M. Najeeb, a Youth Congress leader. The UDF rebel is Sujith Pavithran, son of Pavithran, former Kalamassery municipal chairman.
The opposition BJP and LDF point an accusing finger at the heaps of waste in the municipal area especially near the highway adjacent to the crematorium. The lack of development of the railway station, the government medical college, unauthorised constructions and corruption in the administration too has been alleged by the opposition. The UDF has listed the multi-crore Children’s Science Park as a big achievement and has come out with a four-page list of achievements in its 16-page glossy brochure.
