Spotlight on Kerala, national issues

Kochi: Compared to the previous elections, national and state politics, including new political alliances, the beef controversy and the  bar  scam have impacted the  civic polls this time, according to leaders of major political parties.

While addressing  ‘Janapaksham – 2015,’  of the Ernakulam Press Club here on Monday, the district leaders of  the Congress, CPM and BJP remarked that national and state issues had  more significance now than in the past.

DCC  president V.J. Paulose said that if voters were  influenced by the political scenario at the centre and in the state, it would certainly help the UDF.

“In the absence of anti-incumbency factor in the state and in Congress-led local self-governments, the UDF will get  a magnificent victory. The by-election results reaffirmed the people’s support to the Oommen Chandy government while the stances taken by the CPM proved to be beneficial for the UDF,” he said.

CPM district secretary P. Rajeev said  the voters would give a befitting reply to the anti-secular and anti-pluralistic policies of the Modi government and the Congress’ failure in addressing the potential danger.

“The LDF is confident of winning the elections with a big  majority as there is strong anti-incumbency feeling in the state and in all the UDF-led local bodies,” he said.

On why local issues have been sidelined in campaigning, he said that the party had  prepared manifestos through a democratic exercise with active people’s participation.

“There will be  a proper mechanism to follow up and realise the promises for which an expert committee will be constituted,” he said.

However, BJP district president P.J. Thomas admitted that the beef controversy had  made maximum damage to the party in Kerala.

“But the party is steadily increasing its base in the state and these elections will be a real takeoff for us. Unlike previous elections, the BJP has fielded the maximum number of candidates, 18, 000, while in Ernakulam the party has 1700 candidates,” he said.

Certain outside factors like SNDP’s support will be beneficial to the party,  he said.