KOCHI: The Piravom by-election which is held six months after the Oommen Chandy Government came to power is going to be a tough battle for the UDF with the LDF already armed for upsetting the ruling UDF applecart. Though both the fronts have named their candidates, the UDF is yet to officially launch its election campaign. The LDF has already kickstarted its poll campaign. However, both the candidates - M J Jacob of the LDF and Anoop Jacob of the UDF - have started campaigns on their own.Both the leaders are fully engaged in the constituency, attending all major and minor functions, including marriages, funerals and festivals. M J Jacob is already a well-known figure in the constituency whereas Anoop is a novice in electoral politics. Anoop has only tested the electoral politics when he campaigned for his father, the late T M Jacob, in the last elections. However, the UDF leaders say that Anoop would prove to be a winner in the elections. The Kerala Congress (Jacob) does not have sufficient strength in the constituency, which is another worry for the UDF . The fortunes of the KC(J) had always revolved around T M Jacob. But the UDF is putting up a brave front with DCC president V J Paulose saying that the Congress will be leading the campaign rather than entrusting the whole campaign with the KC (J). ‘’In all the by-elections, there would be tough fights. The people of this constituency wants the government to continue and so they would vote for the UDF candidate,’’ he said. The leaders are also worried about the split in the Congress votes as had happened in the last elections. Several panchayats in the constituency have a strong LDF presence, which also adds to the tough fight. However, the leaders say that Piravom had always stood with the UDF. ‘’In almost all the elections, the UDF always had an upper hand,’’ Paulose said. The LDF would be campaigning touching upon the issues of farmer suicides, rising prices of essential commodities, surcharge on electricity and scams of the UPA Government among other issues. And the UDF would be finding it hard to counter these issues. Paulose is of the opinion the election would be based on the performance of the UDF Government.“The UDF will be focusing on the development programmes initiated during the time of T M Jacob and the welfare activities unveiled by the Chandy Government.’’ Meanwhile, M J Jacob said that the election would revolve around the performance of the present Chandy Government and the policies of the Centre and the State.
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