Kerala - Kochi
Gains galore for LDF in Ernakulam district
Renu Ramnath
KOCHI: The Left Democratic Front has made impressive gains in Ernakulam district, improving the tally ten times compared to 2001 results, annexing 10 out of the 14 seats.
The trend had started in the 2003 Lok Sabha byelection, when the LDF Independent Sebastian Paul romped home with a comfortable margin. In the 2004 elections to Parliament and in the local body polls the next year too, the LDF had improved its position in the district, considered a UDF stronghold. This year's Assembly election is an extension of this winning trend.
One contributing factor to the victory is the shifting of votes of the politically non-committed middle class, which preferred clean, efficient candidates who stood for good governance.
One look at the winners of the UDF camp will underline the fact that personal rapport established by the candidates - K.V. Thomas, K. Babu, V.K. Ebrahim Kunju and V.D. Satheesan - had stood them in good stead at the hustings.
The LDF wave could not bail out M.M. Lawrence and K.N. Ravindranath, both associated with the trade union wing of the CPI(M). M.C. Josephine of the CPI(M)'s women's wing was unable to capitalise on the LDF wave and the support from the PDP and the Jamaat-e-Islami.
In Aluva, the defeat of K. Mohammedali of the UDF at the hands of a newcomer Yousuf is noteworthy.
The voters opted for a change and the Congress candidate was unable to arrest the erosion of traditional votes witnessed in the constituency since 2003.
That the rank and file of the UDF had not taken kindly to the alliance with the DIC(K) was evident from the defeat of T.M. Jacob in Piravom.
Mr. Jacob, who had not tasted defeat so far, was defeated at Piravom, which he had been representing for the last three terms, after a similar record in Kothamangalam. The LDF was also able to blow the myth that the Muslim population is staunchly behind IUML.
(The Hindu - May 12, 2006)
Gains galore for LDF in Ernakulam district
Renu Ramnath
KOCHI: The Left Democratic Front has made impressive gains in Ernakulam district, improving the tally ten times compared to 2001 results, annexing 10 out of the 14 seats.
The trend had started in the 2003 Lok Sabha byelection, when the LDF Independent Sebastian Paul romped home with a comfortable margin. In the 2004 elections to Parliament and in the local body polls the next year too, the LDF had improved its position in the district, considered a UDF stronghold. This year's Assembly election is an extension of this winning trend.
One contributing factor to the victory is the shifting of votes of the politically non-committed middle class, which preferred clean, efficient candidates who stood for good governance.
One look at the winners of the UDF camp will underline the fact that personal rapport established by the candidates - K.V. Thomas, K. Babu, V.K. Ebrahim Kunju and V.D. Satheesan - had stood them in good stead at the hustings.
The LDF wave could not bail out M.M. Lawrence and K.N. Ravindranath, both associated with the trade union wing of the CPI(M). M.C. Josephine of the CPI(M)'s women's wing was unable to capitalise on the LDF wave and the support from the PDP and the Jamaat-e-Islami.
In Aluva, the defeat of K. Mohammedali of the UDF at the hands of a newcomer Yousuf is noteworthy.
The voters opted for a change and the Congress candidate was unable to arrest the erosion of traditional votes witnessed in the constituency since 2003.
That the rank and file of the UDF had not taken kindly to the alliance with the DIC(K) was evident from the defeat of T.M. Jacob in Piravom.
Mr. Jacob, who had not tasted defeat so far, was defeated at Piravom, which he had been representing for the last three terms, after a similar record in Kothamangalam. The LDF was also able to blow the myth that the Muslim population is staunchly behind IUML.
(The Hindu - May 12, 2006)
posted by renuramanath at 10:55 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home