LDF hopes to unsettle UDF in bastion
The Congress leadership is confident of its winning chances
KALPETTA: Battlelines are yet to be drawn in the hill district of Wayanad known as a UDF bastion. In the total 25 village panchayats, the Congress rules in 22 whereas the CPM in just three — Tirunelli, Meenangadi and Vythiri.
The district panchayat, all the four block panchayats and the Kalpetta municipality, the only one in the district, are ruled by the UDF.
In the last election to the local bodies, the Congress had almost rooted out the LDF from the district. All the three legislative constituencies also are represented by the Congress.
The Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency is also represented by M.I. Shanavas, Congress leader. But this time, the CPM is set for a change and the candidates of almost all seats have been already decided.
It is also cashing in on the discontent among farmers over the recurring wildlife attacks on habitats and the imminent implementation of the Western Ghats conservation recommendations which, farmers believe, have many anti-farmer sections.
“We have already announced our list of candidates to all seats in the district,” said CPM district secretary C.K. Saseendran.
“Moreover, the widespread protest among settlers against the UDF for its failure in addressing the problems faced by the farmers living in the fringes and interiors of jungles and the delay in clearing the borders of ecologically sensitive zones as per Kasturirangan report would affect the election,” he said.
The Congress leadership is confident of its winning chances. DCC president K.L. Poulose told DC that the delay in the selection of candidates was due to the high number of aspirants.
“The LDF will not feel such a heat as their prospects are bleak in this Congress bastion. Instead, they are running to find out candidates in several seats, he added.