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Tag: Kerala Assembly polls 2021

  • Kerala Elections: CPM assesses it is going to get 80-85 seats

    Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the Left entrance started its inventory taking after the meeting elections, the CPM feels that the competition might probably have an in depth end. Even because the district committees have begun their respective evaluation, the social gathering is of the view that it might be capable of win round 80-85 seats.

     The social gathering is assured of profitable again Nemom, BJP’s lone sitting seat. Top sources within the social gathering expressed confidence that the BJP’s vote share will take a dip, even because it feels that the social gathering might lose a variety of sitting seats. The BJP’s assured votes haven’t all been forged for some cause. The simmering resentment between the BJP and BJDS too might contribute in just a few pockets. 

    “Several sitting seats witnessed a tough fight, as quite a few ‘sure’ seats turned overnight into fighting seats. There will be a number of sitting seats that we may lose, with tight fight at Alappuzha, Ambalappuzha, Thrissur, Kozhikode North and Ranni. LDF would have lost in Kuttiyadi had the candidate not been changed at the last minute. It’s not going to be a sweep, but a close fight,” stated a high chief.  

    Going by the evaluation of district unit leaders, south Kerala will stand with the Left. In Thiruvananthapuram district the place the LDF has now 10 seats, the entrance confronted a tricky combat in lots of locations. Vattiyoorkavu, Kattakada, Varkala, Chirayinkeezhu, Neyyattinkara, Kazhakoottam and Attingal are seen as certain seats whereas the social gathering is assured of getting Nemom and Vamanapuram. In Parassala and Nedumangad, the social gathering feels that the UDF might rating upset victories. 

    The social gathering Kollam unit noticed that this time too, all the district will stand with the Left. The CPM assessed that Kundara, Kottarakkara, Pathanapuram, Kunnathoor and Chathannoor will likely be certain wins. Contrary to earlier assessments, the social gathering now feels that J Mercykutty Amma can have a cushty win right here with a lead of greater than 5,000 votes. “The surveys and a general impression that P C Vishnunath may win have led to the party improving its performance. She will lose only if the CPI votes are not polled,” a supply stated.  

    In Kottarakkara, Okay N Balagopal might get a lead of round 16,000 votes with round 6,000-8,000 votes coming from Kareepra panchayat. Okay B Ganesh Kumar of KC(B) might win with a lead of 21,000 votes. In Chathannoor, CPI’s G S Jayalal might get a lead of greater than 20,000 votes. 

    The social gathering is, nonetheless, not very snug with the evaluation of Kollam and Karunagappally constituencies. In Kollam, the social gathering observes that the lead might be simply round 1,900 votes whereas in Karunagappally, the margin will likely be simply 500-odd votes. In Chavara, the social gathering feels that Sujith Vijayan might get a lead of two,000 votes whereas in Eravipuram, it might be 18,000 votes. In Alappuzha, issues will not be very rosy. Though it’s going to be a decent combat, P P Chitharanjan will win by not less than 5,000 votes. 

  • Conspiracy theories on cross-voting, vote commerce fly thick and quick

    By Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after the state exercised its franchise, the three main political fronts are busy calculating all doable permutations and mixtures to try to decipher the ballot consequence. While the ruling and opposition fronts are assured of garnering a cushty majority, the NDA predicts a hung meeting that may enable the third entrance a major say. Meanwhile, conspiracy theories and tales of cross-voting and vote commerce are additionally doing rounds.

    While the LDF expects to win round 85 seats, the UDF has laid declare to something between 75 and 85. The BJP, however, hopes to safe not less than seven seats this time. In the meantime, all three fronts have provide you with their very own variations of cross-voting in key constituencies. Continuing the Left’s tirade on BJP and UDF over an unholy nexus, CPM performing secretary A Vijayaraghavan alleged that points confronted by the saffron get together, such because the rejection of its candidates’ nominations in some constituencies, confirmed the get together was not approaching the polls critically. 

    “The BJP could not even ensure a triangular contest in several constituencies,” he mentioned.At the identical time, accusing the CPM of becoming a member of arms with PDP and with BJP in lots of pockets, Opposition chief Ramesh Chennithala claimed solely the UDF was in a position to keep away from such unholy alliances. “CPM workers have been unleashing violence across the state due to their fear of defeat,” he mentioned. He additionally alleged widespread bogus voting in Taliparamba, the place he demanded a re-election.

    Congress state president Mullappally Ramachandran expressed concern relating to the ballot consequence in Manjeshwar, the place BJP state president Ok Surendran contested. Alleging cross-voting, Mullappally mentioned the data he had obtained from the grass-root staff in Manjeshwar was terrifying.  “If Surendran manages to win there, CM Pinarayi Vijayan will be solely responsible,” he alleged. 

    ‘CPM-Cong deal to defeat BJP in 45 seats’.

    The NDA alleged that CPM and Congress had entered right into a consensus to defeat BJP in round 45 seats the place the saffron get together had excessive probabilities of successful. Senior BJP chief P Ok Krishnadas mentioned such a transfer to defeat NDA was the results of an understanding between Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and CPM basic secretary Sitaram Yechury. Surendran claimed each LDF and UDF confronted the elections with the assist of communal forces. “Though the SDPI publicly announced its support to UDF in Manjeshwar, the organisation was supporting the Left in several other constituencies,” he mentioned in Kasaragod.

  • Kerala Elections: Keenly-watched seats see decrease turnout

    Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The voter turnout within the meeting elections declined sharply from 77.35 per cent in 2016 to round 74.02 per cent (as of 10pm on Tuesday) this time. The preliminary evaluation primarily based on the provisional voting proportion launched by the Election Commission reveals {that a} appreciable variety of swing votes weren’t solid in round two dozen keenly-watched constituencies.

    In 22 seats the place elections had created lots of public curiosity, polling dropped by 1-8 per cent from 2016. This implies that regardless of intensive campaigning, the three fronts did not deliver fence sitters to the cubicles. Such seats embrace  Kazhakoottam, Nemom, Konni, Palakkad, Pala and Thrissur.

     N M Pearson, political observer, stated, “The low turnout indicates absence of swing voters who often decide the winners in the race. But it’s hard to predict who will benefit from this as many constituencies have witnessed three-cornered fights.”

    Normally, the Left used to profit from the low voter turnout. “But things have changed over the years and there was a considerable number of swing votes even among the rank and file of mainstream political parties today. Overall, there was a stark contrast in the campaigning of Left and UDF as the former sought the mandate projecting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while there was a leadership uncertainty in the UDF,” he stated.  Political pundits additionally conceded that the controversies raised by the Opposition did not deliver voters to the cubicles.

  • 74.02% good rating, Kerala! Now the lengthy wait

    By Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Creditable turnout although tad decrease than final time .Results on May 2 .Complaints of bogus voting regardless of ballot panel’s steps .Two aged folks collapse and die .LDF eyes 85 seats.Cong assured .NDA present essential  

    Kerala has made its resolution on who will rule the state for the subsequent 5 years however you’ll know the reply solely on May 2. Braving an unrelenting Covid-19 pandemic and summer season warmth, voters lined up at polling cubicles throughout the state on Tuesday to train their franchise within the meeting elections. The common voter turnout stood at a creditable 74.02 per cent, although it was a tad decrease compared to the 77.35 per cent recorded within the 2016 election.

    While the ruling Left Front expressed confidence of retaining energy with a cushty majority, the opposition UDF camp can be elated.

    Going by the UDF evaluation after the polls, the entrance ought to win wherever between 75 to 85 seats. The BJP-led NDA hopes to make its presence felt with authoritative victories in 5 to seven seats along with ending second in about 10 seats.

    Significantly, the Sabarimala subject dominated the political discourse on the polling day, with the LDF, UDF and BJP buying and selling costs. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claimed Lord Ayyappa and all different gods would stand with the Left Front for being there for the folks, to which Congress veteran A Okay Antony retorted the Chief Minister ought to first apologise to the Lord for the Sabarimala fiasco.

    The state additionally witnessed incidents of violence in some pockets, together with at Kazhakoottam in Thiruvananthapuram the place CPM and BJP staff clashed with one another.

    The BJP candidate within the constituency, Sobha Surendran, staged a sit-in whereas LDF candidate and Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran flayed the cops. Violence was additionally reported in Haripad the place CPM and Congress staff clashed. In Kannur, an IUML employee was hacked.

    In many closely-fought constituencies, the voting proportion remained comparatively low with BJP’s lone sitting seat — Nemom — recording 69.80 per cent in comparison with 74.11 per cent in 2016.After the voting ended, opposition chief Ramesh Chennithala exuded confidence that the UDF will come again to energy with an emphatic victory.

    ‘Left sure of winning at least 85 seats’

    “The general sentiment among voters across the state indicates that the masses have exercised their franchise against the Left government. The publicity campaigns have not come to the support of the Left,” mentioned Chennithala. He alleged that the Left cadre, sensing defeat, had unleashed violence in opposition to UDF staff throughout the state.  

    However, the Left management rejected the opposition claims and expressed confidence of successful 85 seats or extra. “The Left is sure of winning at least 85 seats. The extent of victory would be known only after careful analysis of the Left wave that swept the state,” mentioned CPM politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai.

    The CPM additionally suspects cross-voting between the UDF and the BJP in a number of constituencies. The BJP camp, although, is but to make an evaluation. While most pollsters really feel it might be an in depth name, one factor is obvious — the bipolar political nature of the state is all set to remodel right into a tripolar one with the BJP-led NDA making inroads into many pockets.

  • Sri Lankan Tamils vote in Gavi the place there’s not even telephone community

    Express News Service
    PATHANAMTHITTA: “If this situation continues, we all may not be in Gavi during the time of next assembly polls. Our hardships are beyond words. We don’t have any hospital and education facilities. The main issue for us is that phones have no use in Gavi as we don’t have network coverage. Many people in my village still don’t know how to handle an ordinary phone. How we can live here?” requested 34-year-old Padmanabhan Selvaraj, who belongs to one of many Sri Lankan Tamil households residing at Gavi in Pathanamthitta district. 

    He was speaking to TNIE after casting his vote on the Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) workplace at Gavi in ward III of Seethathodu grama panchayat on Tuesday. He reached Gavi from Pathanamthitta city after travelling 60km by means of deep forest.

    “Though I am a voter of Kochu Pamba, I can’t live here as I am doing contract work of KSEB. Daily, I get several work-related calls. If I stay here, I cannot use phones. Here, we also don’t have hospitals and schools. So, I stay in the town area temporarily with my wife and children for better living conditions,” he mentioned.    

    As many as 699 voters stay in Gavi, Kochu Pamba, Meenar, Pathinalam Mile and 18 Inch Colony  of Konni meeting constituency within the scenic forest space. Of them, 680 voters belong to Sri Lankan Tamil households. They communicate Sinhala, Tamil and Malayalam. The Election Commission had arrange two polling cubicles for Sri Lankan Tamil households — one at Gavi and the opposite at Kochu Pamba — for the meeting polls. 

    Though their residing circumstances are pathetic, they actively took half within the meeting polls on Tuesday.“We live in a reserved forest area. Hence, we will not get land in our names. We live in the layams (workers’ quarters). We don’t want land. Every part of the world has phone and internet connectivity these days. But here, phones do not have any use. Even when there is a medical emergency or death, we have to travel kilometres to hire a vehicle. If we have phone network coverage, our lives will become easier. We have only one LP school in Gavi which was started five years ago. We also dodn’t have a hospital and ambulance facilities here. If we need any of these facilities, we have to go to Vallakadavu, Vandiperiyar and Tamil Nadu,” mentioned Ramajayam R.

    Mahendran Veeraiha, 42, mentioned Tamils, who had gone to Sri Lanka earlier, have been introduced again to India as a part of an settlement signed between the 2 governments in 1964. “Our mother and father  reached Gavi from Sri Lanka within the Seventies. Earlier, round 700 Sri Lankan Tamil households stayed right here. They cleared some portion of the thick forest and began cultivating crops. 

    They work in cardamom plantation of KFDC and the Gavi eco-tourism challenge. During Seventies, the each day wage of a employee was solely `4.50. At current, the wage is `436. “The retirement age is 58 and after that, we meet our expenses using pension,” mentioned Mahendran, who works as a clerk within the KFDC. Now, solely 360 Sri Lankan Tamil households stay right here now. Several others left for Vandiperiyar, Vallakadavu, Kollam and Tamil Nadu for higher residing circumstances.

  • Adani is a bridge between Modi, Pinarayi: Chennithala

    By Express News Service
    ALAPPUZHA: Opposition chief Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday continued to assault Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the ability deal and stated that industrialist Adani is a bridge between the chief minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  “This is the reason why the cases against Pinarayi are being buried,” he instructed reporters at Haripad.

    “Pinarayi is helping Adani with ‘left and right hands’. The agreement with KSEB and Adani is the latest example. Though he managed to create a smog of political opposition in the issue related to the handing over of the Thiruvananthapuram airport to Adani, the government welcomed him. It is Pinarayi’s new tactic to fool people,” stated Chennithala.

    “Pinarayi has gained politically and economically with this tacit understanding. Pinarayi aims to convert this into votes in the upcoming election. He is deceiving the Communist party cadres,” he stated. The Opposition chief additionally alleged that the KSEB was assigned one other settlement with Adani final month.

  • Kerala Elections: Face off – Thrithala

    By Express News Service
    What is the one factor the constituency lacks and the way do you intend to deal with it?
    Your tackle the opponents?
    How assured are you of successful the seat?
    Your favorite pastime?
     V T Balram – UDF

    Shortage of consuming water. To resolve the difficulty, I had submitted a proposal — masking the panchayats of Thrithala constituency and three panchayats of Pattambi constituency — however the govt didn’t act on it.

    Corruption by the LDF authorities and the communalism of BJP won’t discover favour with the citizens.

    People will elect me contemplating my initiatives as MLA — offered water connections to 10,500 households, constructed many faculty buildings and applied numerous different devpt schemes.

    Reading

     M B Rajesh – LDF

    The constituency faces consuming water shortage regardless of the presence of Bharathapuzha. Will implement a complete venture with KIIFB help.

    It will not be about people however the insurance policies and stands on numerous points.

    Thrithala is an LDF citadel. The devpt & welfare schemes by the federal government will guarantee my victory.

    Reading, watching worldwide soccer league matches.

     Sanku T Das – NDA

    The work on authorities arts and science school and laying of artificial tracks have been delayed. Will implement central schemes.

    The sitting Cong MLA was at loggerheads with LDF-ruled panchayats, which delayed improvement tasks.

    I belong to this space and, subsequently, I’m properly conscious the wants of the individuals within the constituency. The double requirements adopted by the UDF and LDF on Sabarimala and different points will profit me.

    Reading and watching movies. 

  • High-octane marketing campaign to finish on Sunday with roadshows

    By Express News Service
    KOCHI: As campaigning enters the ultimate day, the state is witnessing a high-octane marketing campaign with the main fronts making an attempt to impress the voters with roadshows, rallies and home visits. While LDF is trying to focus on the event and welfare measures, UDF is specializing in corruption expenses towards the federal government and NDA has introduced the Sabarimala challenge into the highlight.

    On Saturday, CPM politburo member Brinda Karat and former JNU scholar chief Kanhaiya Kumar campaigned for LDF. The absence of Priyanka Gandhi took some shine off UDF, which  is counting on her brother Rahul Gandhi to prop up its marketing campaign. Rahul will lead a roadshow in Nemom for Okay Muraleedharan. Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala will marketing campaign in Idukki.

    Home Minister Amit Shah carried out roadshows in Kozhikode and Wayanad. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who campaigned in Malappuram and Kannur, mentioned the LDF and the UDF had been practising politics of corruption, violence and appeasement of minorities. On Sunday, Pinarayi will lead a roadshow in Dharmadom from 2.30pm to six.30pm.

    Actors Prakash Raj and Harisree Asokan amongst others will be part of.BJP state president Okay Surendran will probably be campaigning in Manjeshwar. Nirmala Sitharaman will take part in a public meet in Tiruvalla. All the candidates will conduct roadshows. With the Election Commission banning the marketing campaign finale or ‘kottikalasam’, the candidates will probably be specializing in roadshows and door-to-door campaigning.

  • Amit Shah poses seven questions on gold smuggling to Pinarayi

    By Express News Service
    KOZHIKODE: Union Home Minister and BJP chief Amit Shah has put seven inquiries to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan within the gold smuggling case and demanded a reply from the CM earlier than the state heads to the polls. Addressing an election rally at Sultan Bathery in Wayanad on Saturday, Shah stated that although he had requested a number of inquiries to Pinarayi Vijayan many instances, the CM merely received offended and didn’t reply to any of them. Shah additionally ridiculed the LDF and the  UDF for remaining arch rivals in Kerala even because the CPM and the Congress — which head the 2 fronts, respectively — maintain arms in West Bengal. 

    He stated that the Communists and Congress ought to merge to kind the ‘Comrade Congress Party.Amit Shah also sought to make fun of senior Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi on the occasion, calling him a ‘tourist’ politician. “Rahul Gandhi had earlier represented Amethi (UP) in the Lok Sabha for 15 years, but did nothing for the constituency. Wayanad shouldn’t expect anything from Rahul. He is a tourist politician,” Shah stated. He alleged that when the LDF authorities unleashed cruelty on believers in Sabarimala, the Congress remained a mute spectator. 

    PINARAYI TAKES DIG AT PM

    Kannur: Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s chanting of ‘Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa’ in Konni, CM Pinarayi Vijayan stated on Saturday that the PM should have remembered the statements he made when he visited the state earlier. Pinarayi stated the Congress and BJP within the state are transferring like twin brothers within the ballot subject. In truth, many Congress-controlled states had been gifted to BJP, he stated.

    THE POSERS

    Did key accused in gold smuggling case Swapna Suresh work beneath your workplace?
     Is it true that Swapna had been employed for a month-to-month wage of RS 3lakh, which was paid by the state authorities?
    Was there a nexus between your former principal secretary and the accused…did he assist her out?
    Did the previous principal secretary facilitate Swapna’s international journey on the expense of the exchequer?
    Was she a frequent customer to the  Chief Minister’s Office (CMO)?
     Did somebody from the CMO name up the customs authorities, asking them to launch the gold seized on the airport?
    What prevented intervention by the state authorities when the ED and customs sleuths had been attacked within the case?

  • PM Modi mum on CPM-free India: Rahul Gandhi

    By Express News Service
    KOZHIKODE: Congress  chief and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi mentioned that he has seen Prime Minister Modi retains on mentioning Congress-free India wherever he goes, however by no means says CPM-free India. Rahul was addressing UDF employees at a nook assembly in Koyilandy on Saturday.

    The RSS and BJP know the true menace to them comes from Congress, the occasion which unites everyone. BJP additionally is aware of that the LDF is a divider of society and follows violence like them, he mentioned.He claimed that Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY), which is a minimal revenue assure scheme, will enhance the financial system of Kerala in addition to India.

    “Whatever developments you see in India today have happened because of Congress party. The biggest problems we face today are rising unemployment and stagnated economy. While fishermen in Kerala are venturing into sea for livelihood, the LDF government is making deals with foreign companies to destroy their livelihood,” he mentioned in Koyilandy.

    When Rahul was returning after his speech in Koyilandy, the foot of Vadakara DySP Moosa Vallikkadan bought beneath the wheels of the escort automobile. He was taken to Taluk Hospital, Koyilandy. There is a small fracture on his foot and docs suggested a minimal two weeks’ relaxation for him.