THIRUVANANTHAPRUAM: The LDF is trying to make organic farming, palliative care and waste management major campaign issues during the coming Chengannur bypoll.
The LDF strategy is to focus on organic farming and palliative care to take advantage of its candidate Saji Cherian’s contribution in this field in the constituency. Under the Karuna Pain and Palliative Care Society, the candidate and his team have carried out extensive work in palliative care and fertiliser-pesticide free farming.
The LDF hopes to attract young voters by focusing on these issues besides neutralising what it alleges the UDF and BJP attempts to polarise voters on religious lines. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday had hailed Saji Cherian saying his human face reflected in palliative care and organic farming sector. “Saji has ensured peoples participation in such ventures which is laudable,” he said.
However, he sounded a caution. "It will be ideal to have a campaign on positive issues. But it may not be easy since people resort to devious tactics and unscrupulous ways to secure votes. So even while concentrating on positive issues, our workers should be vigilant against provocative actions. It is not easy to counter the propaganda machinery. The only way is to connect directly with people," he said.
Cherian is also flaunting the award that he won for organic farming, in his campaign meeting besides highlihgitng “Kuttanad Rice” which is fully organic.
While the Opposition candidates agree on the need for organic farming, pain and palliative work and waste management, they question the government’s commitment.
BJP candidate P. S. Sreedharan Pillai said while rooting for organic farming one should not forget the practical issues. “We require massive food production considering country’s needs... The use of fertilisers or pesticides cannot be completely banned as it could adversely affect the yield and also reverse the increasing food grain production,” he said at an interaction with students.
