The polling is over, and the leaders who had a hectic schedule in the last two months took a breather on Tuesday.
It was a day of celebration at Cliff House on Tuesday as it was after several months of wait, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was at home in a relaxed manner. After months of hectic campaigning across the State, the household members of Cliff House saw their ‘Appa’ chilling, devoid of any political discussions. Like any other day, Chandy met visitors, but fortunately he could wind them up quickly. Both his two daughters, Maria and Achu as well as son, Chandy Oommen were all in Cliff House amidst the frolic and fun unleashed by his grand children, Ephinoah, Angela and Christina.
The only party leader who came calling at Cliff House was just N. Sakthan, Speaker and Kattakada Congress candidate. When news of tidal attack on the coastal areas was reported from Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts, Chandy held telephonic conversations with respective district collectors.
Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan who returned from Alappuzha on Monday night, spent a quiet day at his official residence Cantonment House on Tuesday. Barring a couple of interviews, it was day of relaxation for the 92-year-old leader who had a hectic campaign schedule this time. Those close to him say, the veteran leader has not complained of any health issues despite his gruelling campaign schedule. He will board the evening flight from Thiruvananthpauram to Nedumbassery at 5.50 pm on Wednesday and reach Palakkad by road the same evening.
The opposition leader who will be staying at Palakkad Rest House, will head for the counting centre on Thursday at 8 a.m. After the counting, he will board a flight from Nedumbassery to Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday at 9.50 p.m and attend the state committee meeting at the AKG Centre on Saturday. The veteran leader will leave for Delhi for the central committee meeting taking place on
May 22 and 23.
Kerala Congress (M) chairman K.M. Mani talked to the media persons at his house on Tuesday. He attended funeral functions at two houses at Pala town and Panackapalam and a marriage ceremony at Cathedral Church, Pala. He met the local Kerala Congress (M) leaders at his house in Pala and discussed the polling. He spent the evening at his house without any public functions.
CPM politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan stayed at his home at Pinarayi in Kannur till evening on Tuesday, though there were many visitors and party men. He will participate in the marriage of CPM leader K.K. Shailaja's son on Wednesday and leave home on May 19 evening after the counting of votes.
Actor Mukesh spent the day with his family and attended a marriage function in Alappuzha with his wife Methil Devika. He enjoys good health despite the hectic campaign under the scorching sun though he was careful about his complexion. Mukesh is a sure-shot candidate of the CPM in Kollam. He would return to Kollam on Wednesday to join the party members to ‘celebrate’ his victory.
P.K. Kunhalikutty expressed confidence about a good show by the party and ignored the exit polls which predicted a win for the LDF. He spent most of the day at his residence in Karathode near Malappuram. Some of his close aides and party workers were around. The month-long campaign has not tired him. His constituency registered two percent increase in voting compared to the previous election. He also attended a function in Malappuram town and later left for Ernakulum for a private function.
