VS Achuthanandan joins CPI(M) campaign for Chengannur bye-poll, attacks KM Mani

Achuthanandan also said that both Congress and the BJP should not desire to win in Chengannur.
VS Achuthanandan joins CPI(M) campaign for Chengannur bye-poll, attacks KM Mani
VS Achuthanandan joins CPI(M) campaign for Chengannur bye-poll, attacks KM Mani
Written by:

Just days before the crucial May 28 Chengannur bye-election, the CPI(M)’s campaign got a boost on Sunday when senior leader VS Achuthanandan joined the campaign.

The former Chief Minister enthused voters in a meeting with his usual oratory style — satirical and sharp. Though he delivered a written speech, it had the Achuthanandan’s usual ingredients.

Attacking Kerala Congress (M) chief KM Mani during a campaign meeting for CPI(M) candidate Saji Cherian, he said, "The Left Democratic Front will win the election even without the support of Mani. If Mani's move is to defeat the LDF, it will bypass the move and will win.” 

The octogenarian is still a huge crowd puller, and his campaign meetings attract people in large numbers. Achuthanandan also said that the election result will be an evaluation of the LDF government, and said that the stands the Congress has taken is the reason it has been reduced a few states in the country.

“Both the Congress and the BJP shouldn’t desire that they will win in Chengannur,” he said.

This is the first time that the Achuthanandnan is campaigning in this bye-election. He will continue to campaign on Monday.

The party of KM Mani, KC(M), has six MLAs in the state assembly. The party, based in Kottayam, has a reasonable vote share in Central Travancore (under which Chengannur also falls).

The CPI, an ally of the CPI(M), is not in support of receiving votes from the KC(M) and the remarks of CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran irked Mani.

Mani had earlier said that as Kanam has nothing to lose in the election as the candidate contesting is from the CPI(M), he is trying to kill two birds wants the CPI(M) candidate to lose.

Meanwhile, SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellappally Natesan said that they would announce the party’s stand on May 23. The political outfit —  floated by Vellappally-Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) — is an ally of the BJP. However, Vellappally hasn’t openly declared its support for BJP. Vellappally criticized the Left government and termed it as the government of the ‘upper caste’ for its move to give reservation for those belonging to the upper caste on the Devaswom Board.

More leaders from the Left, the Congress and the BJP will join the campaign in the coming days.

D Vijayakumar is the Congress candidate, and the BJP has fielded senior leader PS Sreedharan Pillai.

The bye-election is being held due to the death of 65-year-old KK Ramachandran Nair, who won the election after contesting from a CPI(M) ticket in 2016. He passed away on January 14 due to a liver ailment.  

Related Stories

No stories found.
The News Minute
www.thenewsminute.com