A fierce electoral battle is on between UDF and LDF for grabbing power at the newly formed Piravom municipality.
The new municipality has 27 wards, of which 14 wards are reserved for women. Three wards have been reserved for scheduled caste candidates, including one for a woman candidate. The total population of the municipality is 27,229, including 13,871 women.
As many as 18 Congress candidates are in the fray. While Kerala Congress (Jacob) has fielded its candidates in six wards, Kerala Congress (Mani) is contesting in three wards. The CPI (M) candidates are contesting in as many as 18 wards and CPI has fielded seven candidates. The CPI (M) partners Janata Dal and Kerala Congress Scaria Thomas faction are trying their luck in one ward each. The BJP has fielded its candidates in 17 wards.
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UDF which is ruling the panchayat is banking on the developments works that it has implemented during its regime.
In fact, the panchayat had remained municipality for two years before it was reverted to panchayat in 1992. Piravom regained its municipality status early this year.
Sabu K. George who is leading the UDF election campaign, said that the panchayat had been upgraded as municipality on a unanimous request. With the amendments to the Municipalities Act in 2004, the municipalities could now decide on its own tax structure. Besides, the municipality would get more funds including a government grant of 5 crores for development works.
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Mr. Sabu said that the UDF was carrying out its electioneering through the family units. The completion of gas-based electric crematorium, and establishment of a thermal incinerator for garbage treatment were the major development works during the UDF regime. The suburban mall being constructed in association with Supplyco at a cost of Rs.13crore is yet another ongoing development project. The construction of a hanging bridge between Pazhoor and Kakkad and rainbow bridge connecting the manappuram of Pazhoor Perumthrikkovil were the other achievements of the UDF
However, former panchayat president and Opposition leader, K.P.Salim who is spearheading the LDF campaign, countered the claims of Mr. Sabu.
He claimed that it was the previous LDF panchayat regime that initiated steps to set up a crematorium. Interestingly, the garbage treatment plant had been juxtaposed with the crematorium. Besides, the UDF had not been able to keep its promises like construction of houses under the Laksham Veedu scheme, sport stadium in Piravom and steps to mitigate the sufferings of workers engaged in sand collection.
Mr.Sabu and Mr. Salim are contesting this time around as well.