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.
