Traditionally a United Democratic Front (UDF) bastion, the Chalakudy constituency has, however, stood with the Left Democratic Front (LDF) during the last two Assembly elections.
The then sitting MLA of the Congress, Savithri Laxmanan, was defeated by CPI(M)’s B.D. Devassy in 2006. Mr. Devassy retained the seat by winning against the Congress’s youth power and Rahul Gandhi’s hand-picked candidate K.T. Benny in 2011.
This time too, the CPI(M) is fielding Mr. Devassy. Though there was a demand to change Mr. Devassy, the party leadership has decided to give him one more chance.
The CPI(M) leadership had earlier offered the Chalakudy seat to the late actor Kalabhavan Mani.
However, he refused to contest. The late actor’s memory and the mysteries shrouding over his death still haunt people in the constituency.
The Congress has fielded T.U Radhakrishnan, another senior leader. K.A. Unnikrishnan is the Bharat Dharama Jana Sena candidate here. Chalakudy comprises Chalakudy municipality, Athirappilly, Kadukutty, Kodakara, Kodassery, Koratty, Melur and Pariyaram grama panchayats of Mukundapuram taluk.
The constituency has sizable votes of high-range farmers. If the upper-hand in the last local body elections gives the LDF confidence, the UDF is determined to wrest back the constituency.
The in-fighting actually led to the defeat of the Congress last time. Chalakudy had supported Innocent during the Lok Sabha elections.
The Athirappilly hydroelectric project, threat of displacement of the Kadar tribes, the Gadgil report, issues of high-range farmers and drinking water shortage are hot issues in the constituency.
