MALAPPURAM: The UDF’s Lok Sabha election campaign in Ponnani gained pace after a big stumbling block when top state leaders of IUML and SDPI met unexpectedly.
It would seem like the UDF strategy, especially the IUML, to remain silent about the secret meeting, has proved to be partially successful. In the first phases of electioneering, both the UDF candidate E.T. Muhammed Basheer and LDF candidate P.V. Anwar MLA covered all the seven Assembly seats of the Parliament segment. NDA candidate V.T. Rama entered the scene only four days ago.
The UDF’s campaign trail is planned in three phases with various activities. Visiting important personalities and families, places and Assembly seat level conventions were part of the first phase. Now, the focus is on meeting maximum number of voters. The candidate has covered all the seven Assembly seats twice during the second phase. The local conventions are being held in two major towns of all panchayats now. The second phase UDF campaign will end on April 3 and the third phase would mark with filing nomination on Friday. Along with this, social media campaign for Basheer is also strong.
The constituency had seen a vigorous beginning of LDF campaign which went much ahead in the initial stage. The campaign managers are trying to keep the momentum going to make inroads into the deep UDF pockets. The LDF has planned a four-phase campaign in an effort to reclaim the constituency after decades. Their hopes lie are around the rise vote share over the years. The CPM dependent candidate Anwar has covered all Assembly seats four times so far. Several star campaigners including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury will campaign in Ponnani during the first week of April.
The NDA candidate Rama is busy with booth level family meets and home visits.
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