New voters will prove decisive in UDF bastion

Kochi: The summer sun was burning high though it was just 10 in the morning. Congress candidate and MLA from Paravur constituency in Ernakulam, V D Satheesan, who was perspiring in the heat, took a teabreak and stood under a shade near Chendamangalam bridge, chatting with party workers and inquiring about booth-level campaigns.
Seeing Satheesan, 87-year-old Sankaramalil Sivadas, wearing a white dhoti and cream shawl, walked up to him and showered his blessings in the name of Guruvayoorappan.Satheesan greeted Sivadas, with whom there were a few elderly voters who were smiling broadly.
“I have been fortunate to have the support of people belonging to all sections of the society. We are hopeful of a better win this time,” said Satheesan, who had just concluded a speech briefly narrating the developments he had brought to the constituency.
“Ambedkar children’s park, Muziris heritage project, Snehapoorvam project, revival of ponds and libraries, buildings and vehicles to schools, new roads... the list of development activities brought by Satheesan goes on. And he knows almost all the voters personally. This time, we are not contesting for a mere victory, but to improve our winning margin. Satheesan will win by at least 21,000 votes,” said MS Sudheer, a local Congress leader, who accompanied the candidate. Last time, Satheesan defeated Pannian Raveendran by a margin of 11,349 votes.
This time, there are around 1.9 lakh voters, of which 11,000 are newly-enrolled. “We had a special squad to enrol new voters in the voters list. We hope at least 70% of the new voters will support us,” said the squad leader Ranjith PC. Meanwhile, the LDF camp said it would not be an easy ride for the UDF this time. “People are still struggling for drinking water. The works of IHRD College, Chathanad Bridge and many roads are incomplete.
Above all, the corrupt image of the UDF government and women safety issues are enough for a voter to have a rethink,” said LDF candidate Sarada Mohan during her campaign speech at Kellepparambu Colony.
Sarada, the daughter of former chief minister P K Vasudevan Nair, did not forget to mention the land scam in which controversial godman Santhosh Madhavan was gifted over 95.44 acres in Puthenvelikkara panchayat in Paravur. “Santhosh was illegally handed over land in the constituency of our own haritha MLA. What he speaks and practices are totally different,” she added. At the same time, people like 54-year-old Puzhippilly Parambil Sunitha have doubts over the UDF government’s liquor policy. “The UDF claims that they have closed down bars. Our haritha MLA always speaks positively about liquor ban.
However, Paravur has one of the topselling beverage outlets, where people spend lakhs of rupees every day. None of the politicians wants to close it down. Whom are they actually working for,” she asked.
The UDF is pinning hopes on Christian voters (31%) here. Also, over 51% of the total voters are in the 35-60 age bracket, who Satheesan thinks will favour him.
Satheesan has maintained a good rapport with the communities and had launched his silent campaign six months ago during the local body election. At that time he had visited almost all the households along with UDF candidates and now all those candidates are seen campaigning for him in unison. “Kudumba sangamam was conducted thrice in all 162 booths. He also has an unrelenting attitude against religious polarization,” said Shahul Hameed, a resident of Palakkulam.
The NDA hopes that its candidate Hari Vijayan, a local SNDP Yogam leader, can make an impact this time. Interestingly, SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan had openly supported Satheesan last time. Though both the LDF and the UDF camps exude confidence, they are sceptical about the impact the NDA would leave in the polls.