Campaigning gathers momentum in Ernakulam district

With a fortnight left for the crucial Assembly polls, electioneering has gathered momentum in the district.

Ignoring the searing summer heat and humid climatic conditions, the candidates and their supporters are busily engaged in campaigning in all 14 Assembly constituencies of the district. Almost all the candidates were out in the field on Sunday (March 22), meeting voters and prominent citizens of the constituencies.

The constituency tour of the candidates will begin later this week, during which they will cover the constituency in open vehicles.

K. J. Maxy, the outgoing Kochi MLA and the LDF candidate from the constituency, used the day to meet the maximum number of voters. The candidate also attended booth- and local-level conventions convened by the LDF in the constituency. E. P. Jayarajan, a Central Committee member of the party, will inaugurate the mandalam-level convention of the constituency on Monday (March 23) at Thoppumpady at 6 p.m.

P. R. Sivasankar, the NDA candidate in the Ernakulam Assembly constituency, used the day to attend a few temple rituals and meet prominent citizens. He also personally met a few voters as part of the door-to-door campaign. The central leadership of the BJP has dispatched two vehicles with LED display boards mounted on them, which will travel through the length and breadth of the constituency. Mr. Sivasankar has taken out two roadshows as part of his campaign.

Tony Chammany, the UDF candidate contesting the Vypeen Assembly constituency, devoted the past few days of his campaign to visiting a few public and religious institutions. Meeting community leaders, religious leaders, and opinion-makers of the constituency has been on his agenda. The candidate visited the Munambam harbour around 5.30 a.m. the other day when the fish landing centre began functioning. He will visit the harbour at Kalamukku in the early hours of Monday.

M. B. Shiny, the LDF candidate in Vypeen, attended the election conventions held in the constituency, besides visiting key public institutions during the past few days of her campaign. She also made attempts to personally meet the voters. “It may not be possible to meet all the voters personally. However, I am trying to meet as many voters as possible during the campaign,” she said. The vehicle campaign of the candidate will begin later this week.

The election campaigns are expected to reach their crescendo during the remaining days of the week. Senior political leaders of all major political parties are expected to reach the district in the coming days to lead the electioneering.