Kerala election campaign intensifies post temple tragedy

 

Despite sweltering heat conditions and a dull campaigning against the backdrop of the Kollam temple tragedy, canvassing for the May 16 assembly polls in Kerala is slowly gaining the momentum with leaders of political parties criss-crossing the state, seeking votes.    

 

Kollam temple tragedy after claiming 108 lives gave a set back to the elections campaigns in Kollam and Thiruvananthapurm.

 

However, the election campaign has now gained the momentum.    

 

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who was busy reviewing rescue and rehabilitation of the tragedy victims, has drawn up a hectic poll campaign for himself in the next few days.    

 

Chandy is heading the ruling Congress-led UDF campaign along with KPCC President V M Sudheeran and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala will address a series of poll meetings in the upcoming days.    

 

Chandy's scheduled campaign programmes include addressing poll meetings in Ernakulam, and in northern district of Palakkad on April 16, besides his home constituency Puthuppally in Kottayam and in Alappuzha on April 17.

 

V S Achuthanandan, the 93-year old CPI(M) veteran and star campaigner for party headed LDF, will tour the northern districts till the end of this month.    

 

The Veteran communist leader would be addressing at least three meetings in all the districts.     While one will be in the morning, two will be in the evening, apparently due to hot weather conditions prevailing in the state, party sources said.    

 

Achuthanandan will file his nomination at his constituency in Malampuzha on April 25.    

 

He would attend panchayat level meetings and family gatherings in the coming days, party sources said.