Power outages and erratic voltage fluctuations seem to be genuine poll issues in the neighbourhood of the Cliff House enclave, the leafy gated commune of Cabinet ministers in the capital.
Scores of residents of Devaswom Board locality here are apparently envious of their influential neighbours for the privileged access they have to unimpeded power supply.
The sweltering summer seemed to have only sharpened their resentment. S. Krishnakumar, a resident, alleged that whenever there was a power outage, the Kerala State Electricity Board’s helpline numbers were invariably engaged and timely help was rarely forthcoming.
His mother-in-law, a dialysis patient, required keeping her fluid intake low and hence air-conditioning was a necessity to keep the heat at bay. Other households had equally pressing needs, including children preparing for competitive entrance examinations.
On Monday night, he said he got some relief after a sympathetic senior KSEB official intervened on his behalf.
