Congress rebel redraws battle lines in Chullikkal

The Chullikkal part of the Kochi Corporation was erstwhile a United Democratic Front (UDF) stronghold until the Left Democratic Front (LDF) wrested it successful 2015, aft a Congress rebel contesting arsenic an Independent spoiled the party’s chances and finished second.

The LDF retained the spot 5 years later. Ironically, the aforesaid candidate, Sebastian Antony, who had rebelled against the allocation of a sitting Congress spot to the Kerala Congress (M) successful that election, has present been fielded arsenic the authoritative UDF candidate. This time, however, the UDF faces rebellion from sitting Congress councillor Bastin Babu of the neighbouring Karuvelippady division, who has resigned from the party’s superior rank and is contesting arsenic an Independent.

Antony Francis, who won from the part arsenic an LDF-backed Independent successful 2015, is besides backmost successful the fray, portion K. Seauson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting arsenic well. “The part has a coagulated ballot basal for the party, and we request not trust connected the Congress rebel. Besides, I person connections beyond politics, having been progressive with residents’ associations, Kanivu Pain and Palliative Care, a voluntary organisation distributing escaped luncheon to implicit 1,000 radical daily, and an NGO for artists,” Mr. Francis said.

He proposes to restart the PSC exam coaching centre helium had acceptable up successful the councillor’s bureau successful 2015, which has since produced 18 authorities employees. Complete renovation of the Rameswaram Canal, the root of persistent waterlogging successful the division, remains his apical priority.

Mr. Antony counts being a nonmigratory successful the part for 20 years arsenic his biggest vantage and downplays the beingness of a enactment rebel. “No 1 from extracurricular the part has ever won here. The UDF’s nonaccomplishment successful 2015 was an exception, solely owed to my beingness arsenic an Independent candidate. The accepted Congress ballot base, coupled with the implicit deficiency of improvement nether the LDF successful the past 10 years, volition play successful our favour. While neighbouring divisions witnessed progress, Chullikkal remained stuck successful a clip warp, with waterlogging a changeless origin of infamy,” helium said.

Mr. Babu claimed that helium had expressed his disinclination to contention again to the District Congress Committee enactment and sought six months’ leave. “I did that for the involvement of a young mandalam president of Congress successful Chullikkal. But erstwhile the database of candidates was released, helium was overlooked successful favour of idiosyncratic who had contested arsenic a rebel against the party,” helium said. Mr. Babu believes his way grounds arsenic an award-winning sitting councillor, presiding implicit the cleanest division, volition assistance him flooded the disadvantage of being from extracurricular the division.

Mr. Seauson, associated caput of the Nazareth country committee, gives himself a 50:50 accidental successful the mostly Christian-dominated division. “We person a ballot basal of astir 30%, portion different 40% of voters are impartial and find the outcome. Our combat is against the rebel candidate, since the LDF and UDF candidates person small acceptance among the people,” helium said.

The delimitation has somewhat accrued the size of the division, adding portions from neighbouring Moolamkuzhi, bringing the full electorate to implicit 4,500 voters.