Chengannur by-election: Campaign to pick pace as Election Commission word likely soon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The campaigning for the Chengannur by-election is set to gain momentum with reports that the Election Commission may announce the polling date next week. According to BJP sources, the by-election may be held by May-end or early June before the onset of monsoon. The candidates of the three fronts—D. Vijayakumar of the UDF, Saji Cherian of the LDF and P. S. Sreedharan Pillai of the NDA—have been sweating it out even on the eve of Vishu and meeting as many voters as possible. A BJP leader expressed optimism that the CPM would be trounced in Chengannur after the reverses it suffered in its citadel, Tripura.

However, the CPM does not want to take any chances and will fight to the finish to retain the seat which it had won in 2016. The Congress camp is bracing for the finish line when its top leaders will descend on the constituency to unleash a no-hold-barred campaign. Majority of the senior leaders of the different fronts have taken a break from the heat and dust of electioneering and are waiting for the date to be announced. Mr Sreedharan Pillai told DC that his campaign had not slackened in spite of the delay in announcing the date.

“Campaigning is going on in full swing. On Saturday, I visited the houses in my home panchayat, Venmani, and also at Mannar and Chennnithala. There is no holiday from the campaigning on Vishu too,” he said. Sources said that there is no dearth of funds for the BJP and the CPM candidates. Mr Vijayakumar of the Congress met voters at Vanmazhi Sreemankulangara temple where Pongala was held on Saturday. He also distributed Vishukani to devotees at Mulakuzha organised by the local mandalam committee. He hoped that he would emerge victorious.