KOZHIKODE: He came with his usual smile and entered a tea shop in the town. The locals too reciprocated his winning gesture. Some murmured TP...TP... Perambra’s LDF candidate T.P. Ramakrishnan is not a stranger. After breakfast from the tea shop, he moves to the party office next to it. For almost half an hour, campaign plans for the day are charted out.
After a short speech in the town, the campaign team moves to the interiors of Perambra. Meppayur is their next destination. In between the trips, TP tells DC about his expectations while contesting for the second time after the 2001 elections. In a constituency that has never let the LDF down during the past four decades, his only job is to increase the margin. Last time, K. Kunhammed had gained a majority of 15,269 against KC (M)’s Muhammed Iqbal, who is again trying his luck here.
T.P. Ramakrishnan (LDF)
“The people of Kerala are fed up with the UDF’s corruption. They are trying to divide the people communally. Think of the situation when K.M. Mani had to resign. His representative is the UDF candidate here. The basic needs of the people like drinking water, land, roads, health and education have not been addressed by the government. In eight of the 10 panchayats, the LDF is ruling. Now, the situation has improved in Changaroth and Thurayoor (where the UDF is in power),” TP said. He blames the UDF government for not giving municipality status to Perambra and hindering the bypass road construction.
Though hailing from Kottayam, Mr Iqbal is also well-known here. After failing last time, he stayed back trusting the promise of his leader ‘Mani sir’ that he would get the ticket for Perambra. Iqbal has been campaigning for nearly five years. “If he does not win from here this time, the UDF can write off the seat,” said one of his supporters.
While travelling in his campaign vehicle, he shared with DC his love for the land which has “acepted him as its own.” “Last time I got only 15 days for campaign. Later, when I visited the homes here, the locals told me that they did not know me. I have got more acceptance than the MLA now. We are trying to get more votes than what Mullappally (Ramachandran) got in the Lok Sabha elections,” he said while getting down for his campaign speech at Chenayi.
For Kolapperi Sukumaran Nair of the BDJS, a first timer, the increase in the BJP vote share in the Lok Sabha and local body election has come as a morale booster. “The changing governments are ignoring the basic needs of the land.
The central funds are getting lapsed. The new voters will be a decisive factor,” said Sukumaran.
