Alappuzha: Shobhana George, three-time Congress MLA from Chengannur, has cropped up as a rebel in the constituency in protest against the party’s move to deny her the seat.
With Shobhana’s entry into the poll scene, the contest in Chengannur will be a test of luck for all four candidates. Other than Shobhana and Vishnu, P.S.Sreedharan Pillai, BJP candidate and K.K.Ramachandran Nair of the CPM are in the fray.
The BJP has fielded its heavyweight candidate Mr Pillai, former president of the BJP state unit, in its stronghold in Alappuzha district. The last two times when Vishnunath won, he was benefited because of a weak BJP candidate. So, Sreedharan Pillai’s candidature this time will, in all likelihood, upset Vishnu.
The CPM’s candidate Ramachandran Nair is also on a strong wicket. Nair belongs to the V.S.Achuthanandan faction in the CPM which has a strong presence in panchayats such as Mannar and Pandanad. An advocate by profession, Nair is also a familiar face in the constituency.
Shobhana claims the support of the Orthodox Christian community. Posters and banners have come out in support, hailing her as a local resident, in an indirect dig at Vishnunath who hails from Kottarakkara in Kollam district.
