T. N. Prathapan rolls out 10 guarantees for Manalur, unveils local manifesto

Seeking to position his campaign as a development-driven alternative, UDF candidate T. N. Prathapan has unveiled a 10-point guarantee package and a dedicated manifesto for the Manalur Assembly constituency, promising to roll out all key initiatives within 10 months of being elected. Mr. Prathapan said the guarantees were shaped through discussions with local communities, public representatives, and experts in science, technology and other fields. The package, he said, is aimed at addressing what he described as a “lost decade” for Manalur in both development and welfare.

At the core of the promises is the Mother Teresa Dialysis Centre, which aims to provide free dialysis treatment for poor patients, and the Indira Pharmacy, intended to provide medicines either free of cost or at subsidised rates to eligible beneficiaries. He has also proposed Leader Canteens that would offer lunch for Rs 10 under the slogan of a hunger-free Manalur. For employment generation, Mr. Prathapan has promised a Rajiv Gandhi Startup Park with the support from expatriates from the constituency, aimed at generating employment for educated youth. He also proposed building a Manalur Brand by promoting local farm produce, handicrafts and other native products in wider markets.

Tourism also figures prominently in the manifesto, with the proposed Hridaya Theeram project linking Vadanappally beach, the Canoli canal banks and kole fields through a rural tourism circuit. In the education sector, the manifesto promises the establishment of Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Labs in selected schools to equip students for a rapidly evolving world. The candidate has also announced plans for Manalur Mahima Life Festivals in each panchayat and in the Thaikkad region to showcase the constituency’s cultural, literary, agricultural and heritage strengths before a wider audience.

Among the politically significant promises is the withdrawal of the reserve forest notification affecting families dependent on the Peringottukara river and its banks. Mr. Prathapan said the notification, issued by the Left government, had adversely affected hundreds of families. He has proposed setting up a Manalur Development Council, described as a first-of-its-kind constituency-level body to coordinate and speed up development, welfare, charity, education and cultural initiatives with the support of local bodies, officials, retirees and domain experts.