Thiruvananthapuram: The Oommen Chandy ministry is on the way out, thanks to corruption scandals involving ministers and voters’ keen desire for a change of government every five years. LDF is set to notch a landslide 93 out of 140 seats.
BJP is set to open its account in the Assembly as NDA nominee O Rajagopal, 84, raced ahead on a comfortable 9,000-plus vote lead over nearest rival and sitting MLA V Sivankutty (CPM).
Mr Chandy’s big ticket projects and slogan of “development with care” have not helped him fight the anti-incumbency factor. UDF still enjoys the backing of Christian and Muslim voters in Kottayam and Malappuram districts.
Among prominent losers is Speaker N Sakthan (Congress), Labour Minister Shibu Baby John (RSP), Agriculture Minister KP Mohanan (JDU), Backward Communities Welfare Minister PK Jayalakshmi and Reporter channel head MV Nikesh Kumar. Former Finance Minister KM Mani, who had to quit over bar-gate, has won, 13th time in a row, from Pala in Kottayam.
Among parties, RSP, part of UDF, has drawn a blank.
Now the big question facing the LDF is the choice of the CM. There are two contenders- politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan, a hot favourite with party men, and Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan, the star campaigner. Mr Achuthanandan has already stuck his neck out, saying he would “shoulder the responsibility thrust upon him by the party”.
The question will be resolved by the CPM. Party general secretary Sitaram Yechury and other politburo members in charge of Kerala, are arriving in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday for crucial discussions with State leaders.
