Oommen Chandy revs up electioneering

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has again hit the  campaign trail in Aruvikkara after his mass contact programme in Palakkad.

He has concentrated on addressing small family meetings for the UDF candidate.  But a family meeting at Tholikode, the native place of LDF candidate M. Vijayakumar, turned out to be a public function attended by over 250 people. Mr Chandy also addressed a meeting at Aanapetti.

Mr Chandy had kicked off his campaign only by 3 p.m. In separate family meetings, KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, Finance Minister K. M. Mani, PWD Minister V. K. Ebrahimkunju, Power Minister Aryadan Muhammed, KPCC vice-president V. D. Satheeshan, KPCC general secretaries K. P. Anil Kumar, Sajeev Joseph and Satheeshan Pacheni  campaigned  for Mr Sabarinathan.   

“Chandy is highlighting his four years of governance. The LDF  has unleashed a whisper campaign.  But with the presence of top UDF leaders, we are hopeful of coming out trumps against the LDF,”  said a Congress leader.

Meanwhile, a KPCC general secretary said that Aruvikkara panchayat faced factional issues and general secretary Sarathchandra Prasad and KPCC treasurer Johnson Abraham had ditched the campaign. This forced the election committee convener Thampanoor Ravi to post Congress MLA M. A. Vaheed and Anil Kumar there along with Culture Minister K. C. Joseph.  Mr Chandy is expected to campaign till  June 23. Senior Congress leader A. K. Antony will take out a road show   on June 23 and 24.