Date:03/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/03/stories/2006120308250100.htm

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High-voltage campaign comes to a close

J.S. Bablu

Unprecedented security arrangements in place for Thiruvambadi byelection

POLL PLANK: NCP leader K. Karunakaran speaking at an election meeting in Thiruvambadi on Saturday.

THAMARASSERY: Frenzied campaigners and party activists virtually stirred up the electorate of the Thiruvambadi Assembly constituency on the last day of campaigning on Saturday. The final hours provided exciting moments in the hilly constituency with colourful processions and hectic campaigning. It was peaceful in most places. The bypoll is slated for Monday.

The constituency has been witnessing heated campaigning during the past one week for the bypoll necessitated by the death of Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mathai Chacko in October.

The high-voltage campaign entered a feverish pitch at Thamarassery town around 4 p.m. when activists of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) converged in the town. BJP candidate Gireesh Thevally reached there at 4 p.m., followed by LDF candidate George M. Thomas at 4.45 p.m.

Minor scuffles broke out between LDF and UDF activists at least twice. But intervention of the local police and armed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel averted clashes. The whole traffic came to a halt by around 4 p.m. and the situation continued till 5 p.m.

UDF candidate V. M. Ummer was at Kodiyathur during the last hour of the campaigning.

Wordy duels were reported between LDF and UDF workers at Omassery. A large pose of police averted any untoward incidents.

The highlight of the day was the presence of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader K. Karunakaran in the constituency. He addressed a public meeting at Karad in Thamarassery grama panchayat. CPI(M) district secretary T. P. Ramakrishnan reached the dais and shook hands with Mr. Karunakaran.

Hundreds of people assembled there to hear the veteran leader, whose party the Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) recently merged with the NCP, a constituent of the LDF. He said the victory of the LDF candidate was definite.

Unprecedented security arrangements are in place for the bypolls. Five companies of the CRPF, each consisting of approximately 100 personnel, and four battalions of the Armed Reserve Police, comprising 100 personnel each, will be deployed for poll duty. Flag marches were conducted on Saturday also.