: The leaders of the United Democratic Front (UDF) constituents were all present in Aryanad on Saturday to make an emotional pitch for the coalition’s candidate in the Aruvikkara by-election, K.S. Sabarinath. Led by senior Congress leader A.K. Antony, the leaders sought to strike a chord with the voters by invoking memories of the candidate’s father and the late Speaker, G. Karthikeyan.
Mr. Sabarinath was received with applause and slogans by hundreds of supporters as he embraced his mother M.T. Sulekha and brother K.S. Ananthapadmanabhan before entering the dais at the UDF convention.
Inaugurating the convention, Mr. Antony said while Karthikeyan’s demise was an irreparable loss, the possibility that Mr. Sabarinath stood a chance in succeeding him as the legislator representing Aruvikkara brought solace to his supporters.
“G.K. (as Karthikeyan was fondly referred to by his contemporaries) was rarely criticised by the Opposition, especially during his tenure as the Assembly Speaker. He had strived hard for the development of the constituency and the welfare of its residents. We are confident that his son will become the worthy successor and toil to complete the unfulfilled ambitions he had for the region,” Mr. Antony said.
Many leaders, who spoke at the function, including Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Ministers Ramesh Chennithala, K.M. Mani and P.K. Kunhalikutty, said it was the responsibility of the government to give special priority to the growth of Aruvikkara as had been the dream of Karthikeyan.
Mr. Chandy said Mr. Sabarinath would be able to spur development in the constituency in the age of digitization.
KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran; UDF convener P.P. Thankachan; Janata Dal (United) leader M.P. Veerendrakumar; Revolutionary Socialist Party leaders A.A. Azeez, N.K. Premachandran, MP; Communist Marxist Party leader C.P. John; Kerala Congress (Jacob) chairman Johnny Nellore; and Janadhipathya Samrakshana Samithy leader A.N. Rajan Babu; were present.
Dr. Sulekha said her late husband had held the Aruvikkara constituency and its residents close to his heart.
“If voted to succeed his father, Mr. Sabarinath will not remain just my son, but one of each person in Aruvikkara,” she said, breaking into tears.
