UDF hopeful of improving its position in Thrissur

By Ramavarman T.

THRISSUR, MAY 8. The UDF is hopeful of improving its position substantially in Thrissur district while the rival LDF has not given up hopes of retaining its hold even as the election campaign has entered the feverish final phase.

As per the calculations of the LDF, the traditional strongholds of the UDF and the LDF are likely to remain intact in this election also. According to them, the LDF bastions are Kodungalloor, Cherpu, Nattika and Irinjalakkuda, and the UDF strongholds are Vadakkanchery, Chalakkudy and Thrissur.

But the LDF is making an attempt to shift the loyalty of Thrissur, and according to them the subtle changes in the attitude of the Church and the BJP may brighten the prospects of their nominee, Mr. K. P. Aravindakshan, in this election.

The LDF assessment is that its position in the remaining seven seats will be uncertain and their ranking in terms of the LDF's prospects will be in the order: Kunnamkulam, Chelakkara, Kodakara, Guruvayur, Ollur, Manalur and Mala.

The UDF camp is confident that its tally may go up to 12 this time.

As per their calculations they may even spring surprises in LDF bastions like Kodungalloor and Irinjalakkuda. In Kodungalloor, the front's optimism is based on the SNDP-BJP combine's help and the internal threat for the CPI, particularly from the relatives and friends of the former Minister, the late V. K. Rajan. In Irinjalakkuda, they are also hopeful of a tilt in the Christian votes apart from the flow of votes from the BJP camp.

Similarly in Irinjalakkuda, the BJP votes may flow in favour of the UDF candidate, Mr. Thomas Unniyadan of the Kerala Congress(M). In Nattika, however, there are chances that some of the BJP votes may go in favour of the LDF candidate, Mr. Krishnan Kaniyamparambil. But the UDF camp is making intense efforts to prevent it.

There are reports that efforts are being made to wean some of the BJP votes in Guruvayur in favour of the LDF nominee, Mr. P. T. Kunhumuhammed. But it remains to be seen whether this would materialise considering that Mr. Kunhumuhammed has known anti-RSS positions.

Thrissur is another Assembly segment where the BJP votes will have a significant bearing. According to LDF circles, if the BJP candidate, Mr. Gopalakrishnan, is able to poll about 10,000 votes, that can make a serious dent in the winning prospects of the UDF candidate, Mr. Therambil Ramakrishnan.

The UDF camp is hopeful on the prospects of the front nominee, Mr. T. N. Prathapan, in Nattika as well because the DCC leadership has been able to sort out all the internal problems in the Congress there.

In Guruvayur also, the front nominee, Mr. P. K. K. Bava, hopes to make a comeback with a reasonable majority.

According to UDF leaders, there is a growing support for their nominee, Ms. Thulasi, in Chelakkara and is in a comfortable position to wean back the votes that would have gone to the LDF nominee, Mr. K. Radhakrishnan.

The front feels no serious threat to its nominees in Vadakkanchery (Mr. V. Balaram), Chalakkudy (Prof. Savithri Lakshmanan) and Thrissur.

However, they conceded that it is a neck-and-neck race in Kodakara where the front nominee, Mr. K. P. Viswanathan, is pitted against the LDF independent, Mr. Lonappan Nambadan.

The LDF had shifted Mr. N. R. Balan from Kunnamkulam to Manalur this time with an eye on the Ezhava votes here.

His vigorous campaigns and the indecisiveness in the UDF camp over the selection of candidate and a slow start to the campaigning had increased the hopes of the LDF circles here.

But the UDF seems to have streamlined the campaign machinery to ensure the victory of their nominee, Mr. Paulson, and retain the image of the constituency as a UDF stronghold.

The scales are evenly placed in Kunnamkulam but the LDF camp is optimistic that the advantages they had because of early beginning of the campaign and the disputes in the UDF over the selection of the candidate will ensure the victory of their nominee, Mrs. E. Usha.

However, the UDF camp claim that they have covered up all the delays in their campaign works and the anti-incumbency factor -- both against the LDF Government and against the sitting LDF MLA, Mr. N. R. Balan -- will help them to get their nominee, Mr. T. V. Chandramohan, elected with sufficient margin.

In Mala, the UDF camp is in high spirits and they are hopeful that their nominee, Mr. Radhakrishnan will be able to wrest the seat from Mr. U. S. Sasi of the CPI.

Similarly, the UDF candidate in Ollur, Mr. P. P. George, appears to have acquired an edge over his rival candidate and the sitting MLA, Mr. C. N. Jayadevan of the CPI.

In Cherpu, on the other hand, the LDF camp appears to be certain that their nominee, Mr. K. P. Rajendran, will be able to retain the seat. Here, the UDF leadership also is not very confident of getting their nominee, Mr. M. K. Kannan, being able to upset the LDF applecart.

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Section  : State Elections
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