Politicians kickstart election campaign in Kerala, hold yatras across the state

Thiruvananthapuram: It's a season of political yatras in Kerala with all parties gearing up for polls due in next two-three months. National leaders have kickstarted their campaigns with an aim to sway an electorate that wants more substance than rhetoric.

Amal Babu, a resident, said, "When a party needs these yatras to affirm their place in the society it means there is some problem within the party or they feel that they need some more efforts to make their position in the peoples mind more strong."

Sabira, a Literature student, said, "By collecting the opinion of the masses the parties can add it to their agenda and serve the people better."

Political analysts believed that these yatras are primarily aimed at gathering party cadres to prepare them for elections. Though 140 constituencies are covered, primarily in urban areas, there is no actual attempt to address basic issues.

Political analyst J Prabhash said, "Had the intentions of the yatras been to come closer to the people they would have visited the villages. That is one of the reasons why people are averse to these yatras."

Politicians, meanwhile, claimed that local issues are extensively discussed during yatras. Congress claimed that people have been widely supportive of government policies including prohibition.

KPCC president VM Sudheeran said, "Whatever main points raised by the people we are incorporating all those ideas. We are trying our best that problems of the people are addressed."

The 'Vimochana Yatra' led by BJP state president Kummanam Rajashekarana has asked people to vote for change stating that both the Congress and the Left have done equal damage to the state. CPM, however, claimed that people are upset with rampant corruption under the state government

CPM Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan said, "It's a shame for us that a person like Oommen Chandy is still continuing as our Chief Minister. If the Congress had an iota of morality they would have asked the chief minister to step down."

While the ruling UDF is seeking a second chance for development agenda, the LDF wants people to throw the government that is neck deep in solar and bar bribe corruption. The BJP has been asking people to vote for a change while making all efforts to open an account in the southern state. The big question is will the Kerala voters stand by the political tradition of electing governments alternately or will they usher in changes to the political scenario.