With less than a week left for the first phase of assembly polls in Kerala, campaign has hottened up in six southern districts where Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Communist Party of India (Marxist) veteran V S Achuthanandan have emerged as the biggest crowd-pullers for the United Democratic Front and the Left Democratic Front respectively.
Though their campaign themes and style of speech vary, the two leaders have proved tireless campaigners inflicting on themselves a punishing schedule criss-crossing the ups and downs of the state braving the scorching summer heat.
While Chandy is seeking vote arguing that the return of the Congress-led front was essential for pushing ahead the fast-paced development, Achuthanandan has been holding that a change of guard was necessary to save the state from the UDF rule that has made commoners' life 'miserable'.
For the 82-year-old Marxist, seen widely as LDF's chief ministerial probable though his party persistently insists that it is not its practice to project any particular person for the post, the current round of election is perhaps the last chance to make it to the top slot.
Ironically, the recent commotion in the CPI-M over his candidature appears to have boosted Achuthanandan's popularity. For Chandy, 20 years younger to his Marxist rival, the ongoing campaign has reinforced that he is the pivot of the UDF, whether the coalition wins or loses the battle.
When Chandy became Chief Minister two years back, it marked the end of a phase in Congress politics in Kerala, which had revolved around factions led by K Karunakaran and A K Antony for three decades.
He has since consolidated his political position by imparting a new dynamism to governance and changing the UDF into a disciplined coalition, political observers feel. Declining to be disheartened by predictions of LDF victory by pre-poll surveys, Chandy had been attending scores of meetings canvassing for UDF candidates ahead of the polls, with the first phase of voting scheduled on April 22.
If he was in the water-logged Kuttanad in Alapuzha district earlier last week, Chandy was touring the arid expanses of Palakkad where the summer heat is compounded by the dry wind blowing through the Western Ghat pass.
Seeking election from his home turf Puthupally in Kottayam district for 11th time, Chandy had spent only a couple of days in the segment leaving it to his campaign managers to ensure his victory.
Known for his disciplined routine and spartan lifestyle, Achuthanandan has also been moving from district to district as he has been in demand by LDF candidates across the state.
Contesting from the CPI-M stronghold Malampuzha in Palakkad district, Achuthanandan had been to his constituency only for two days, spending his time and energy for the LDF in other parts of the state.
Also read:
Complete Coverage: Assembly polls 2006
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