Will Puthuppally in Kerala be witness to a new version of the biblical tale of David and Goliath? Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who has been winning every election from there since 1970, will take on the new State president of the Students Federation of India, who turns 26 next month.
Seeking his 11th successive victory, the 72-year-old Mr. Chandy practically knows most of the voters by their first names, and the constituency like the back of his hand.
SFI State president
Jaik C. Thomas, the recently appointed SFI State president, told IANS that he heard the news on television that the Kottayam district committee of the CPI(M) has selected him to fight against Mr. Chandy.
“I just heard it, and now all the things will be decided by the party. Yes, I am happy that I have been asked to contest against the Chief Minister, who is currently facing a few allegations,” said Mr. Thomas, who is now doing his Master’s in International Relations.
Asked how he feels about his chances, he laughed.
“No doubt, he (Mr. Chandy) is a very formidable rival and the constituency is predominantly supporting the Congress-led United Democratic Front. Even in 2011, he won with his biggest margin of more than 30,000 votes,” said Mr. Thomas, who also hails from the constituency.
Facing student leaders at the polls is nothing new for the veteran. He had taken on student leader Sindhu Joy in the 2006 Assembly polls. When Mr. Chandy won his first Assembly election way back in 1970, he was a young Congress worker rising through student politics and was aged 26, the same age his new rival would be. Mr. Chandy had then defeated veteran CPI(M) leader E.M. George.
Despite several tries, Mr. Chandy could not be contacted as he was busy in election meetings in Malappuram district.
