High-profile battles in Kottayam district

KOTTAYAM: Kottayam district will witness tough, high-profile battles this time with leaders like Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, KC(M) chairman K.M. Mani  and Kerala Congress (secular) leader P.C. George testing their strength in the context of the raging political controversies surrounding them.

The district has mostly favoured the UDF and in the last Assembly elections, it had won seven of the total nine seats.  In almost all the constituencies, community organisations, including the Christian churches, NSS and the SNDP Yogam,  have  a decisive role in the electoral outcome.  

In the previous election, the LDF could win only   from Vaikkom reserved seat and Ettumanur.  Mr  K. Suresh Kurup of the CPM captured Ettumanur  defeating sitting MLA Thomas Chazhikkadan of KC(M),a four-time winner.

Mr Mani may find the going tough in Pala, considered as his fiefdom.  Last time, his majority was  5,259  votes when there was virtually no challenge to his supremacy  with even Mr P.C. George backing him. But this time there will be strong undercurrents against him.   

Mr  Oommen Chandy  will be  contesting from Puthupally for the tenth time. Though faced with several controversies, his popularity with the masses has never been in doubt  and he is close to every family in the constituency. Mr Chandy would throw everything into the battle to retain his hold on the seat and prove his detractors wrong.  

Mr Mons Joseph, the KC(M) sitting MLA  in Kaduthuruthy,  is eyeing  the constituency this time too. The contest in  Poonjar will be watched with interest as Mr P.C. George  will fight it out with the backing of the  LDF.   The KC (M) will be fielding a tough candidate against Mr George.