A spirited triangular fight for Kottayam

Kottayam: The Kottayam parliament constituency is witnessing a fierce three-way fight. All the three fronts are presenting experienced candidates in a bid to wrest the land of latex and letters.

While the LDF candidate V.N. Vasavan is way ahead in the campaigning, the former four-time Ettumanoor MLA Thomas Chazhikadan, the UDF candidate fielded by the Kerala Congress (M), and the six-time Muvattupuzha MP P.C. Thomas of the NDA have also hit the campaign trail.

The candidature of Mr Vasavan, the previous CPM district secretary, has put the entire party machinery in the campaign. His focus is on rubber farmers blaming the inefficacy of the former MP for their sufferings. He offers a comprehensive development plan for the constituency.

The community factors play a role in determining the electoral outcome of the district.

Mr Chazhikadan belongs to the numerically strong Knanaya Catholic community, and he banks on the developmental initiatives of Jose K. Mani who quit last year and went to Rajya Sabha.

He may also try to capitalise on the stand the LDF government adopted on Sabarimala allowing all women there among other issues.

With its support base in the plantation sector and various communities, the UDF seeks the vote for solving the farm crisis, blaming both the Union and state governments for it.

The UDF has an advantage as there's no anti-incumbency to play against its candidate.

He has to calm the enraged Congress workers to ensure the entire votes are cast in his favour.

Meanwhile, NDA's Mr Thomas says his rapport with the people in the district will benefit him.

The Sabari rail project which he claims as a product of his efforts is in its final phase of realisation, and he also hopes to benefit from the discontent of P.J. Joseph loyalists.