Chengannur by-election: Longish electioneering turns voters away

Compared to Neyyatinkara and Aruvikkara by-elections during the UDF regime, Chengannur looks like a local body election.

Update: 2018-05-19 19:57 GMT
Senior Congress leader A. K. Antony (Photo: PTI)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The prolonged campaigning in Chengannur has led to voter-weariness and the rival fronts have been struggling to maintain the tempo till the voting day on May 28.  But the Karnataka developments have energised the UDF camp and the senior Congress leaders will try to cash in on the advantage the party received there.     

Congress Working Committee member  A. K. Antony will conduct a road show for two days from Wednesday which will enthuse the workers, say Congress leaders. “KPCC president M. M. Hassan, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala and former chief minister Oommen Chandy  have been  holding family meetings in the constituency.  Mullapally Ramachandran MP campaigned on Saturday,”  said a Congress MLA.

But  the fronts are worried over the  lack of interest shown by the voters numbering 1, 88,702.  Compared to Neyyatinkara and Aruvikkara by-elections during the UDF regime,   Chengannur looks like a local body election.   A crucial factor will be the 3,500 votes of the Kerala Congress (Mani). Its  chairman K. M. Mani is likely to call for  ‘conscience votes’ while  vice-chairman P. J. Joseph’s faction supports the UDF.

“The voters have understood the games played by the BJP in Karnataka and they  will vote  for a worthy candidate,”  said a Youth Congress leader. All the candidates, including   Mr Saji Cherian of the CPM,   Mr D. Vijayakumar of the Congress and Mr  P. S. Sreedharan Pillai of the BJP,  have been sweating it out in the scorching summer.

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