Dissident menace in Pathanamthitta

By Radhakrishnan Kuttoor

PATHANAMTHITTA, APRIL. 8. The writing on the wall in Pathanamthitta in the pre-election scenario is indicative of a strong dissident menace, at least in a few constituencies.

The Congress dissident, Mr. P. Mohanraj, who is also the DCC secretary, has already launched his campaign in Pathanamthitta Assembly constituency striking a tough posture against the sitting MLA and Congress nominee, Mr. K.K. Nair.

Though both the LDF and UDF are yet to begin their poster campaign, the Congress rebel has hit the trail at different vantage points in the municipal limits.

Mr. Mohanraj claims that he enjoys the backing of all Congress mandalam committees in the constituency and his decision to enter the fray against the official party candidate was their common interest.

According to Mr. Mohanraj, Mr. Nair, who had stated recently that he was not a member of any political party, should show the dignity not to accept the Congress hand symbol in the ensuing polls. Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, he expressed resentment over the Congress decision to field Mr. Nair as the party candidate in Pathanamthitta which, he alleged, had hurt the sentiments of a majority of Congress workers in the constituency.

The resentment in the LDF camp, especially the Kerala Congress(J), over the candidature of Mr. Jerry Easaw Oommen in Pathanamthitta has spread a pall of gloom over the LDF campaign and the Congress dissident anticipates an erosion of votes from the disgruntled LDF quarters into his kitty.

However, the sitting MLA, Mr. K.K. Nair, who will contest for an eighth term in the State Assembly, appears to be least concerned about the rebel menace.

Mr. Nair launched his election campaign much ahead of the announcement of the poll dates, with personal visits to voters, where he distributed a booklet `Niyamasabhayum Niyojakamandalavum' that depicts his achievements as an MLA in the past 31 years as well as his development agenda for the constituency for the next five years.

Mr. Nair is confident of his victory. The Congress leadership is also said to have carefully studied the prevailing political situation in Pathanamthitta before enlisting Mr. Nair's name in its first list of 36 candidates for Kerala.

Uphill task for UDF

The UDF hopes for smooth sailing in Kallooppara may face rough weather as the KPCC member and one-time strongman of the Congress `reformists' in the district, Mr. Thomas Mathew, has challenged the candidature of Mr. Joseph M. Puthusserry of the Kerala Congress(M).

Mr. Mathew, who declared solidarity with the `I' group and full support to Mr. K. Karunakaran the other day, alleged that the Congress leadership had deceived party workers by not making any effort to regain the Congress stronghold of Kallooppara from the KC(M). He criticised the party leadership for denying a ticket to the DCC president, Mr. Peelippose Thomas, who is said to be a strongman of the `A' group in the district.

Mr. Mathew alleged that the selection of Congress candidates was not made on the criteria of winnability and ability but as per the wishes of certain `self-centered' party leaders.

He said he would contest from Kallooppara as a Congress candidate if nobody from the party came forward to regain the seat from the Kerala Congress. Mr. Mathew sees a sure win for a Congress candidate in Kallooppara. He claimed that voters in Kallooppara were `unhappy' over the candidature of both Mr. Joseph M. Puthusserry of the KC(M) and the sitting MLA, Mr. T.S. John of the KC(J).

Similarly, the former district secretary of the JSS in Pathanamthitta, Mr. Pandalam Bharathan, has declared his candidature in Pandalam against the UDF candidate, Mr. K.K. Shaju, who is also the JSS district president in Alappuzha.

In another development, the BJP has extended its support to Mr. Bharathan in Pandalam as an independent.

The chaos in the UDF camp over candidate selection has made the mood upbeat in the CPI(M) camp which will field Ms. K.L. Bindu as the LDF candidate in Pandalam.

Meanwhile, there are also reports that a disgruntled `I' group is most likely to field the KPCC executive member, Ms. Maleth Sarala Devi, in Aranmula where the DCC secretary, Mr. K. Sivadasan Nair, is the official UDF candidate.

The CPI(M) district secretariat member, Mr. A. Padmakumar, and the BJP district president, Mr. U.N. Unni, will be the other major contestants in Aranmula.

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