Kerala: Achuthanandan, Chandy emerge as crowd-pullers

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 16: With less than a week left for the first phase of assembly polls in Kerala, campaign has hotted up in six southern districts where Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and CPI-M veteran V S Achuthanandan have emerged as the biggest crowd-pullers for the UDF and LDF respectively.
Though their campaign themes and style of speech vary, the two leaders have proved tireless campaigners inflicting on themselves a punishing schedule criss-crossing the ups and downs of the state braving the scorching summer heat.

While Chandy is seeking vote arguing that the return of the Congress-led front was essential for pushing ahead the fast-paced development, Achuthanandan has been holding that a change of guard was necessary to save the state from the UDF rule that has made commoners' life "miserable".

For the 82-year-old Marxist, seen widely as LDF's chief ministerial probable though his party persistently insists that it is not its practice to project any particular person for the post, the current round of election is perhaps the last chance to make it to the top slot.

Ironically, the recent commotion in the CPI-M over his candidature appears to have boosted Achuthanandan's popularity.

For Chandy, 20 years younger to his Marxist rival, the ongoing campaign has reincforced that he is the pivot of the UDF, whether the coalition wins or loses the battle.