Campaigning for Aruvikkara by-election gathers steam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the LDF and UDF candidates climbing atop modified vehicles to reach out to maximum voters covering all eight panchayats, the campaigning for Aruvikkara by-election has entered the next phase.

The vehicle jatha of LDF candidate M. Vijayakumar was inaugurated by CPI national executive committee member Pannyan Raveendran on Tuesday.

UDF candidate K. S. Sabarinathan sought support from people in Poovachal and Aryanad, while Vijayakumar concentrated on Vellanad and Aryanad.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president V. M. Sudheeran and home minister Ramesh Chennithala  addressed family meetings in Aruvikkara and Aryanad while M. P. Veerendra Kumar and Johnny Nellore campaigned in the constituency separately.

Opposition V. S. Achuthanandan addressed a public meeting in Vijayakumar’s village Tholicode while CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and M. B. Rajesh MP attended family meetings in Aryanad and adjoining areas.

Chief minister Oommen Chandy, who is in Palakkad for the Jana Samparka Paripadi, will be back in Aruvikkara on Wednesday. He will be attending an open forum at Aryanad.

Meanwhile, O. Rajagopal accompanied by senior leaders of the BJP intensified electioneering in various parts of the constituency. The BJP veteran’s vehicle jatha campaign will begin from Wednesday.

G. Karthikeyan's widow M. T. Sulekha, meanwhile, accused Mr Achuthanandan of trying to belittle her in public. The CPM leaders are making the veteran leader spread falsehood. The people will give a befitting reply to the  CPM in the by-election, she said.