Solar, bar scams threaten UDF hopes in Kerala bypoll

With less than three days remaining for the close of campaigning for the crucial June 27 Assembly by-election in Aruvikkara constituency, Kerala’s Congress-led ruling UDF is desperately searching for ways to overcome the threat posed to its prospects by the solar scam and bar bribery scandal, especially in the context of the latest “disclosures” concerning Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s alleged role in the former and the sabotage of a probe report in the latter.

The situation has pushed the Congress and the UDF into the defensive in its campaign exercises just when the CPI(M)-headed Opposition lDF and the BJP have embarked on aggressive electioneering as the poll date has neared. Aruvikkara is witnessing a tough triangular battle with the BJP using all its might in campaigning with the hope of opening electoral account in the State.

Parties entered the final phase of electioneering on Monday with on-vehicle campaigns, family meets and booth-level rallies.  Top leaders are expected to appear in the constituency in the next three days. lDF’s star campaigner VS Achuthanandan started his last leg of campaigning on Monday while senior Congress leader AK Antony is expected to visit Aruvikkara on Tuesday.The by-poll in Aruvikkara was necessitated by the death of sitting member and Assembly Speaker G Karthikeyan of the Congress, who had been representing the constituency (formerly Aryanad) since 1991. The Congress has fielded Karthikeyan’s son KS Sabarinathan as the UDF candidate hoping to cash in on the possible sympathy wave.The lDF candidate for the by-poll is CPI(M)’s former Speaker and former Minister M Vijayakumar, a native of the constituency. The BJP’s candidate is its most reputed and respected figure in the State, former Union minister O Rajagopal.