LDF goes down in its strongholds

TRIPUNITHURA: Chottanikkara and Thiruvankulam panchayats were the only   solace for the distressed Left Democratic Front (LDF) with all other  panchayats siding with the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Piravom by-election. Both the panchayats had always been the strongholds of the party. Though LDF had a lead of 171 votes at Chottanikkara and 365 votes at     Thiruvankulam, this was far below what the front bagged in the last  election. The LDF managed a lead of 1,900 votes in 2006 and 1,300 in 2011 at    Chottanikkara whereas at Thiruvankulam it was 2,513 in 2006 and 857 in 2011.  The figures clearly show that the LDF is losing its clout and popularity in  these panchayats. However, M C Surendran, CPM Tripunithura area secretary, claims that the LDF  still enjoys stronghold   popularity among the people here. “Both    panchayats had 12 polling booths each and as per our estimates around 60   votes from each booth at Chottanikkara and 40 votes from each booth at Thiruvankulam have been drained. The fall in the number of votes is the   result of undemocratic campaigning carried out by the UDF. They won the seat  using political and money power and also with the support of religious outfits. However, the party still enjoys the support of people in these  areas,” he said. Thiruvankulam Congress constituency committee secretary C K Sasi said the   victory in Piravom was a recognition of the welfare activities initiated by the Oommen Chandy government. People have expressed their gratitude through   the ballot. The fall in the number of LDF votes at Chottanikkara and  Thiruvankulam is a sign that the front is losing its popularity.  Factionalism in the party circles must have caused the loss,”  he said.Meanwhile, BJP constituency committee president at Thriruvankulam, M N Madhu, declined to comment on the reason for the draining of LDF votes in  Thriruvankulam and Chottanikkara.“Campaign by a battalion of ministers from the UDF camp resulted in the victory of  Anoop Jacob at Piravom. The ministers were seen pleading with people   to vote for a new minister rather than elect an MLA. Campaigning focusing on a new minister seemed to have resulted in the victory of UDF,” he said.