ALAPPUZHA: Candidates were busy with house visits in Chengannur on Sunday ahead of Monday's ballot. Saji Cherian, the LDF candidate, began the day with a mass at St. Mary's Knanaya church, Thiruvanvandoor. UDF candidate D. Vijaya Kumar also visited homes as a last-ditch attempt to ensure votes. NDA candidate P.S.Sreedharan Pillai started his silent campaign from Pulakkadavu colony near Venmony. He also attended a public function at St. Gregorios Medical Mission Hospital, Parumala.
All three are extremely confident to sail through. Since the communal undercurrents is crucial, the political fronts were mainly focussing on wooing major communities. Mr Cherian will cast his vote at SNDP LPS Kozhuvalloor and Mr Kumar at Government HS, Puliyoor. Mr Pillai, a native settled in Kozhikode, has no vote here.
All arrangements, meanwhile, are in place for the polling from 7am to 6pm. Special tents have been erected considering the adverse weather condition. There are 181 polling booths with two voting machines each, including 17 auxiliary booths, with names of 18 candidates. Some 750 police personnel have been deployed for booth-level security, besides central forces. Surveillance cameras have been installed at 22 sensitive booths.
