Thiruvananthapuram: You might think tea must have gone out of fashion this summer. It has not, in Kattakada. The behaviour of the electorate here could be equally unpredictable, according to many sipping their steaming cup. People here say that N. Sakthan is a strong candidate having served as an MLA for three consecutive terms, but the picture is not clear as it seems to be.
Non-Nadar Deciders:
The campaigning for LDF and NDA has become so intense that it could yield surprise results, according to Jeelani A., who runs a fruit stall. “However, there are rumours that appeals would be made to those in Nadar community in the last week of campaigning. Mr Sakthan is the only Nadar among the top three in the fray,” he says.
Definitions of development:
The word ‘development’ is often used to argue for and against the sitting MLA. “For the longest time, the road next to Kattakkada bus depot was in shambles and it was Mr Sakthan who repaired it. There are so many bus shelters that he has spent money on. The UDF would bank on the development,” says P, Prakash, who runs a fruit stall.
It was more than two years ago that the main road between Kattakkada and Eruthavoor had to be cut for laying JICA pipelines, but the road was repaired only recently, according to Mohanachandran S. S., a shopkeeper at Ooruttambalam.
“The quality of the repair appears to be poor. Then there is no water even though they claim that Kalipara project is partially commissioned,” he says. The word ‘development’ pertains only to roads, and people’s real problems are not addressed, says Dileep I. V., a painting contractor. “I hear that it takes two or three months for daily wage workers employed under NREGA to get paid,” he says.
