Triangular contest in Nemom

By N. J. Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, APRIL 22. Even as the LDF and the BJP are moving in a hectic pace on the campaign trail, the UDF continues to be a divided house in Nemom Assembly constituency.

The sitting MLA and the LDF candidate, Mr.Venganoor Bhaskaran, and the BJP candidate, Mr.M.S.Kumar, are way ahead of the UDF candidate, Mr.Sakthan Nadar. The local Congress(I) leaders are yet to emerge from the impact of the group squabbles which gripped the party of late. This has impeded Mr.Nadar's campaign.

Unless the Congress(I) factions settle the differences of opinion it would not be easy for Mr.Nadar to be on par with his rivals. The UDF workers exude the confidence that the campaign would be on the track soon.

The LDF is concentrating on the developmental works done by the Government. The sanctioning of Plus-Two courses in two schools, development of roads, the Pallichal drinking water scheme, steps taken to overcome low voltage problem, electrification of colonies, upgradation of Balaramapuram Primary Health Centre into a hospital, opening of Government Homoeo Hospitals in Balaramapuram and Pallichal panchayats and public distribution outlets are being projected as some of the major achievements of Mr.Bhaskaran.

The LDF has held the mandalam, ward and booth conventions and squads are now calling on the voters. Mr.Bhaskaran and other prominent LDF leaders are addressing family get-togethers.

The BJP is very systematically running its campaign. For, Nemom is one of the constituencies from where the party hopes to open its account in the Assembly. Mr.Kumar's candidature was announced immediately after the declaration of elections and the BJP workers started work in the right earnest. Committees have been formed in all the 183 booths in the constituency. A notable feature in Nemom is that RSS activists are heading the campaign of Mr.Kumar.

Mr.Kumar says the BJP has been registering consistent growth during the past three elections and has secured 26,000 votes in the last Lok Sabha elections. The position is all set to improve, Mr.Kumar claimed. The thrust is on the lack of development. Mr.Kumar accused Mr.Bhaskaran of neglecting the constituency.

It remains to be seen how the agitation against the Vilappilsala garbage plant headed by the UDF and the BJP will affect the prospects of Mr.Bhaskaran. The BJP and UDF workers say that the locals of Vilappilsala are upset over the way the LDF, especially the CPI(M), has backed out of the agitation. The BJP has gained three members in Vilappil panchayat owing to the stand the party has taken on the garbage plant agitation, Mr.Kumar said.

There is a communal polarisation in the constituency. As the LDF and UDF candidates are members of the same community, the BJP claims to enjoy the support of the Nair community which forms a sizable section of voters in Nemom. Though the central leadership of the NSS has not given any directive in this regard, the BJP workers say that 80 per cent of the karayogams have BJP sympathisers at the helm and this would come in favour of Mr.Kumar. The LDF and UDF workers also claim to enjoy the support of the NSS.

Being a tri-cornered contest, prediction of the outcome too becomes difficult in Nemom.

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Section  : State Elections
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