Alappuzha: Citadel of Left politics gears up for intense battle

Express News Service
ALAPPUZHA: Alappuzha, a Communist bastion, is ready for an additional battle of ballots with all three candidates fielding sturdy candidates in all 9 seats. From UDF, Congress has fielded eight candidates, together with two sitting MLAs in Haripad and Aroor, whereas Kuttanad has been given to Kerala Congress (Joseph).

From LDF, CPM has fielded six candidates, together with sitting MLAs in Chengannur and Kayamkulam. CPI has fielded one individual every in Cherthala and Haripad, whereas in Kuttanad, NCP has fielded Thomas Okay Thomas, brother of former minister Thomas Chandy. From NDA, BJP is contesting in 5 seats and ally BDJS in 4 seats. When it got here to energy within the state in 2016, LDF nearly swept the district, successful in eight out of 9 constituencies. Only Haripad went to Opposition chief Ramesh Chennithala. However, within the 2019 byelection, necessitated after MLA A M Ariff turned Alappuzha MP within the Lok Sabha elections the identical yr, UDF’s Shanimol Osman received from Aroor rising UDF’s presence within the district. 

At the identical time, Alappuzha proved to be the one solace for LDF within the 2019 Lok Sabha elections because it misplaced within the remaining 19 seats. The latest native physique elections too noticed a greater efficiency by LDF when in comparison with the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and likewise boosted the Left entrance’s confidence. The LDF’s implementation of the two-term situation, which noticed three ministers from the district – T M Thomas Isaac, G Sudhakaran and P Thilothaman – pulling out of the race, got here as a reduction to UDF. Had the trio contested, the Congress-led entrance would have needed to sweat it out extra.  

As for the NDA, it’s dealing with the elections with extra confidence and powerful candidates. However, latest claims by RSS ideologue R Balashankar that there’s a tacit understanding between CPM leaders and BJP state management have snowballed right into a disaster and got here as a setback for the entrance. Still, a robust triangular battle is unfolding in varied constituencies. 

As for points, the backwardness confronted by labourers in conventional sectors like coir, fisheries and fish processing and agriculture could be the principle speaking factors within the elections. Though the federal government tried implementing a number of tasks to impact enhancements within the sectors, they’re nonetheless dealing with points.