United Democratic Front (UDF) convener and candidate from the Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency Benny Behanan suffered a heart attack at his residence at Thrikkakara here on Friday morning.
He was rushed to a private hospital at Kakkanad. Hospital sources said Mr. Behanan underwent an angioplasty procedure. His condition is now stable, they said. However, he has been put under observation for 48 hours.
KPCC vice president V.D. Satheesan, MLA, and P.J. Joy, Congress leader in-charge of the Chalakudy constituency, said after a meeting of the party campaign committee that four UDF MLAs, including Anwar Sadath (Aluva), Eldose P. Kunnapillil (Perumbavur), Roji M. John (Angamaly) and V.P. Sajeendran (Kunnathunadu) will together lead the campaign for Mr. Behanan from Saturday.
A vehicle campaign involving all the four MLAs, whose constituencies come under the Chalakudy Lok Sabha seat, will be held from Saturday to reach out to maximum voters.
Mr. Satheesan said that they would go by the advice given by the medical team on whether Mr. Behanan could join the campaign. “Meanwhile, senior Congress leaders, including Oommen Chandy, Ramesh Chennithala, and Mullappally Ramachandran, will participate in roadshows in support of Mr. Behanan,” said Mr. Joy.
Mr. Behanan’s campaign managers said he had completed padayatras in three each panchayats in Perumbavur and Kaypamangalam Assembly constituencies, besides covering a major part of the Chalakudy Assembly constituency as on Thursday evening.
Mr. Behanan is taking on actor-turned politician and sitting MP Innocent of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) front and A.N. Radhakrishnan of the BJP in the battle for Chalakudy. Mr. Innocent visited Mr. Behanan at the hospital and wished him a speedy recovery.
