The BJP has not made any significant presence in the constituency
LDF candidate M. A. Gracy shows her name in a model voting machine to a voter in Angamaly on Tuesday. (Photo: DC)
KOCHI: Angamaly Municipality, which has the rare distinction of having the most unstable ruling dispensation in the state, is going into the polls on Thursday with the LDF raising the slogan of stability against the UDF which is searching for a face-saving slogan.
"Ever since current excise minister K. Babu became the first municipal chairman in 1980, the UDF could not complete its term and handed the rule to the LDF towards the end of each term, due to open revolt in the Congress and Kerala Congress. The voters are determined to change the trend this time as we are offering them a stable administration," said senior CPM leader and two-time councillor Varghese Puthussery who is leading the LDF campaign by contesting from ward No. 23.
The CPM which is leading the LDF in the municipality by contesting in 22 out of the total 30 seats has mostly fielded party supported independents so as to make things easy for the front.
The party is well aware that it is not easy to win over the 60 per cent Christian voters in the municipality by contesting under the party symbol.
The Janata Dal led by Jose Thettayil MLA is contesting in five seats while the CPI for the first time has got three seats in the municipal elections. The chairperson's seat is reserved for woman this time.
From the UDF, the Congress is contesting in 27 seats this time while Kerala Congress (M) has two seats and RSP one seat.
The constituency having an area of 23.27 sq km has 25,185 voters of whom 12,874 are women. A total of 89 candidates are contesting this time.
The LDF is understood to be projecting former councillor M. A. Gracy, who is contesting as an independent from Ward No. 9 for the chairperson's post, while the UDF probables include former vice-chairperson Mary Varghese and sitting councillor Rita Paul.
The UDF faces rebels in six seats which include a KC(M) district secretary who confronts another KC(M) district secretary in Ward No. 20. In Ward No 23, there are three Congress rebels against the official candidate.
The Jose Thettayil sex scandal seems to have not made any impact on the elections with both fronts not talking about it. The current LDF chairman, Benny Moonjely, is not contesting this time.
The wife of former Congress municipal chairman, 'A' group's C. K. Varghese, who was voted out in the third year of this term's rule after defections by four councillors, Lali Varghese, is contesting as an LDF candidate in this election. The BJP has not made any significant presence in the constituency.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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