UDF pulls up socks to gain momentum

Kochi: Sensing the disquiet among the workers  on the lacklustre election campaign for the Kochi corporation,  the UDF leadership in the district has decided to field its top leaders, including MLAs, MPs, mayor and GCDA chairman,  to give it a fresh momentum.

The UDF had wrested the corporation council in 2010 after about 30 years and is now desperately seeking to return to power.

However, electioneering lost its steam midway  with the cadre complaining that even the BJP was ahead of it. “The LDF has a well-oiled  machinery  and we are not worried about it,” said a UDF leader.

“However, we feel that we are behind even the BJP in some divisions, and that’s a serious drawback. There are divisions in which they have completed several rounds of house visits while we have not yet done even the first round,”  he said.

The UDF has realised that its prospects of returning to power depend heavily on the impact the rebel candidates will have on several divisions.

The winning margin in more than 10 divisions last time was below 200 votes. The rebels may be able to influence this margin and upset the UDF applecart, according to the UDF source.

“The leaders with excellent personal relationship with many  rebel candidates will try and persuade them either to declare support for the official candidate or at least freeze their campaign,” the source said.  The ruling front is also keeping its fingers crossed on the influence the SNDP-BJP alliance will have on voters.