Focus on Pala as Kappan contests as UDF candidate

Pala seat in Kerala draws growing attention as UDF declares Mani C Kappan as its candidate in the constituency.

Thiruvananthapuram: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Mani C Kappan and his supporters quit the alliance with the Left Front and reached the UDF Aishwarya Kerala Yathra venue at Pala, on Sunday. As the UDF’s Aishwarya Kerala Yathra reached Pala, in Kottayam district of Kerala, all front line leaders of the UDF - including Oommen Chandy, P J Joseph and PK Kunjalikkutty- were present.

For the first time, UDF declared its candidate for the ensuing Assembly Elections. Mani C Kappan would be the UDF candidate for the Assembly Elections from Pala. All arrangements for a warm welcome for Kappan’s entry to the UDF was done in advance.

Mani C Kappan, who won as a legislator on an LDF ticket from Pala Constituency by-election, did not forget to thank Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan even though he moved to the Opposition camp. Addressing the gathering, Kappan said, Pinarayi Vijayan had extended all support in the development activities in his constituency. Kappan also referred to Kerala Congress leader Jose K Mani as ‘Junior Mandrake’ sarcastically.

NCP has been an ally for a long time with the Left Democratic Front. Another NCP leader A K Saseendran continues as a Minister in the present LDF Government. Mani C Kappan, who has resigned from the NCP is expected to announce his new party on Monday. However, Congress leader and KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran urged Kappan to contest in Congress’s ‘Hand’ symbol at Pala.

Though Kappan has split up and left for the UDF camp, the NCP remains with the LDF. The only NCP Minister in Kerala Cabinet A K Saseendran and NCP state president T P Peethambaran reiterated that they are with the LDF. TP Peethambaran also expressed his sorrow in the NCP losing the Pala seat. He openly expressed his dejection in losing the Pala seat during LDF’s ‘Vikasana Munnetta Jaadha’.

Amidst all these developments in the political scenario of Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the State to review the BJP’s election preparations in Kerala and to inaugurate the development projects in Kochi. In the BJP core committee meeting at Kochi, Modi said that the BJP should get more support from people in the State and attract all sections of the society. Modi returned to Delhi after a one day visit, directing the State leaders to reach Central Government’s welfare schemes to the maximum number of people in the State.

Kerala BJP in-charge C P Radhakrishnan, Prahlad Joshi, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwanth Narayanan and BJP Sanghadana Sahprabhari V Sunil Kumar participated in the core committee meeting. Though the CPM and the LDF leaders have been trying to discuss development projects in Kerala, opposition parties continue to rake up Sabarimala issue.

Nair Service Society (NSS) has come up with a demand to withdraw all cases booked against those who had taken part in the ‘Namajapa ghoshayathra’ protesting against the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry for women at Sabarimala and the State’s stand on it. NSS said, if the cases are not withdrawn, it has to be confirmed that there is no change in the LDF’s stand yet.

Even as the LDF sought not to raise Sabarimala women entry as a poll plank, the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora clarified that there is no objection to raising the issue in the elections. However, if that goes on to create a law and order issue the Election Commission will intervene, Sunila Arora elaborated, during a press conference at Thiruvananthapuram.

The dates for the Assembly polls will be finalised after considering the festivals of Vishu, Ramzan and Easter in the State. The dates for the CBSE board examinations would also be considered, the CEC said. The Commission is yet to decide on whether the polls can be conducted in a single phase.

In view of the pandemic situation, 15000 more polling booths would be added in the State. As many as 40,771 polling booths would be there in the State during the upcoming Assembly election. Each booth will facilitate polling for about a 1000 voters. COVID patients would be allowed to vote in the last one hour.

The CEC also said that Palakkad, Wayanad and Malappuram have been identified as vulnerable district and more security would be provided in these districts. The byelection to Malappuram Lok Sabha Constituency would be conducted along with the Assembly Election. The Chief Election Commissioner also stated that all efforts would be taken to curb fake news and to regulate social media.