THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The muddled political waters at Neyyatinkara, which goes to the by-poll on June 2, has started seeing the ripples created by the murder of RMP leader T P Chandrasekharan and the VS faction which is keeping a low profile in the party here.On the surface of it, there may not be strong reactions as visible in Kozhikode or Vatakara. As the by-election is just two weeks away, the UDF campaign to make the politics of murder a campaign plank is seemingly heading to have an impact on the electorate. A good number of Left sympathisers and the remnants of the VS action here are expressing their discontent in the open.Gnanadas, a lorry driver at Chenkal panchayat who claims to be a CPM sympathiser, told ‘Express’ that like him there were several CPM sympathisers in the area who were hurt by the treatment meted out to Selvaraj and his "forced resignation’’.Velupillai, a manual labourer, says that even a legendary leader like Indira Gandhi had met with electoral defeat. “But no one had been forced to quit the party for her defeat,’’ he said.Gnanadas said that he had taken his 88-year-old father to cast his vote in the last Assembly elections. “This time, I will take him to vote against the CPM. Judas betrayed Jesus by giving a kiss. Like Judas’ kiss, the CPM leaders betrayed Chandrasekharan and pointed him to the murderers. How can it be forgiven?’’ Gnanadas asked. But what appears to be more costly to the LDF candidate is the silence of VS loyalists. However, Thankappan, a brick kiln worker of Vlathankara, is of the opinion that Selvaraj should not have been given the seat this time as it he had "thrust the election upon the electorate".Krishnan and Raju, two farmers of Moolamanvila, said that they were shocked by the murder of Chandrasekharan. They believe that a section of apolitical voters might find it sufficient reason to vote against the CPM or refrain from casting votes. Active Congress workers like Raju, an advocate and DCC member hailing from Keezhammavu, said they believe that Chandrasekharan murder would be an effective election issue to pin down the CPM.He admitted that the defection of Selvaraj and subsequent granting of Congress ticket to him within a short time was indigestible to the pro- Congress voters initially. "We are educating the voters that Selvaraj is just a tool and they are voting to strengthen the UDF government,’’ he said.Geetha, a housewife and resident of Kollamkode parish, is of the view that though the murder has shocked them, it would not be an election issue as the murder had taken place at a far off place. She said the real issues bothering them were the scarcity of kerosene for fishermen and drinking water during the summer season.Anthonyyapan, a fisherman of Pozhiyur, said that they had to pay Rs 55 to Rs 65 to buy kerosene from the black market now and their expense for one outing itself has increased by a whopping Rs 10,000.
Comments
0 comment