NDA banks on Narendra Modi factor

ALAPPUZHA: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is out to draw maximum mileage from Prime Minister Modi's rally here on Sunday. A BJP PM is campaigning for the first time in Kuttanad, where the fledgeling NDA constituent BDJS is taking on the mighty UDF and LDF. They expect the Modi show at Edathua to spin votes for them.

“We are in the top gear,” said BJP district president K. Soman. BDJS candidate Subhash Vasu, also its general secretary, banks on the majority Ezhava votes in the constituency, where the SNDP Union has close to 20,000 affiliated families, which translates into an estimated 55,000 votes.

“Our door-to-door campaign has covered all of them. The sitting LDF MLA Thomas Chandy will end up third this time," says M.T. Purushothaman, secretary of Kuttanad SNDP Union. "For last ten years, he had done nothing for the people. He could not solve the drinking water crisis. It’s a delicate issue like the sorry state of Kuttanad package."

He claims many of the CPM cadres have joined BDJS. “Modiji will influence youngsters,” says Dilu Bhaskaran, a young BJP campaigner. “His charisma and delivery of promises influence the young. So this rally is crucial for us.” LDF campaigner Rocha Chacko feels people treat Mr Vasu like “a new brand in the market.”

“It's quite common. The enthusiasm is there but very few would buy,” he said.
“People here are traditionally part progressive movements connected to LDF. Nobody can break it.”