Two decisive factors in the outcome of local bodies’ election in the district will be the third alliance supported by the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam and the High Range Protection Council (HPC), which fielded candidates under various area development councils.
While the Yogam supports candidates of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), candidates fielded by the development councils are supported by the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
In the last local bodies election, the United Democratic Front (UDF) had a thumping victory with no opposition in some wards.
This time, however, the UDF is faced with a large number of rebel candidates and even more than one in some wards.
The official Congress candidate even did not get the support of the local leadership and many office-bearers have been already suspended for supporting the rebels.
In Adimaly and Nedumkandam areas, where the Yogam has considerable voters, it could make some impact there. In the High Range area, the development councils formed much before the elections, have a large number of workers.
Understanding
The HPC has started campaign on the plank of the farmers’ interest holding rallies in the entire High Range belt. It had an understanding with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leadership before the seat-sharing talks were held in the LDF.
It resulted in a strained relationship with the Communist Party of India (CPI) as the latter had to surrender some of its seats to the HPC.
Compared to the elections in 2010, there is a large number of candidates supported by the LDF. In the last Parliament elections, the HPC had a considerable support and could garner a good number of votes. The HPC hopes that there is no much change in the mindset of the people in the High Range area though it did not have much clout in the Low Range area of Thodupuzha.
An interesting outcome is expected in the newly-formed Kattappana municipality where there are 34 wards. In the last elections, the UDF had won the panchayat.
The LDF election strategy is to campaign more in areas where it did not have much say. The UDF also banks on the fragile land issues, which was the factor behind the creation of the HPC, an umbrella organisation under the church.
The UDF leaders claim that under its rule, largest number of title deeds was issued and it did serious work on the Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports.
LDF backing High Range Protection Council candidates
SNDP Yogam supporting BJP
