Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday hit the campaign trail for the Aruvikkara by-election with a tour of the tribal settlements in the constituency seeking votes for United Democratic Front nominee K.S. Sabarinadhan.
Mr. Chandy began his campaign from Kallamkudi, near Vithura, and winded up the tour after visiting Karakkamthodu and Podiyam.
During his tour of the settlements, the Chief Minister spent a considerable time interacting with the tribespeople, inquiring about housing facility and livelihood means. He also made inquiries about the land available for cultivation and the difficulties faced in marketing agricultural products.
Emotional link
Mr. Chandy tried to rekindle the emotional link that former Speaker G. Karthikeyan, who represented the constituency for 24 years, had with the tribal people.
“I was keen to begin my campaign with a visit to the tribal hamlets as Mr. Karthikeyan used to share his links with the tribesmen. He had taken up several initiatives to improve the living condition of the tribal people but was never satisfied. His son [Sabarinadhan] will continue with the work if voted,” Mr. Chandy said, addressing voters at Podium. Mr. Chandy said he understood the “arduous life that they led,” despite best efforts by his government to uplift their living standards through various welfare schemes.
Welfare measures
The UDF government, he said, had taken up a number of welfare measures for the tribespeople but was yet to see the results on ground. “I am not satisfied with the results. But our resolve to improve your living standards will continue,” he said.
He said if the programmes initiated by the government had to get results, the children in the settlements had to get a good education. It was with this intention that the government had opened residential schools, he said.
He urged people to ensure that their children got enrolled in schools and completed their education without any break.
Says UDF nominee Sabarinadhan will continue the work done by his father
