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It was astir similar a formal rehearsal for the high-decibel finale of the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) run successful the Kothamangalam Assembly constituency connected Monday (April 6, 2026) morning. Supporters of the Congress-led confederation gathered astatine the KSRTC autobus presumption by 9 a.m. Maria Oommen, girl of erstwhile Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and present a sought-after campaigner, arrived by 9.30 a.m., followed soon by UDF campaigner and Kerala Congress person Shibu Thekkumpuram.
Mr. Thekkumpuram, accompanied by Ms. Oommen, led a roadshow from the KSRTC presumption to the Municipal Junction, joined by hundreds of women holding flags of the Congress, Kerala Congress, and the Indian Union Muslim League. Thunderous beats, governmental parodies played astatine precocious volume, and sloganeering signalled what the UDF had successful store for its run finale connected Tuesday (April 7, 2026).
Mr. Thekkumpuram, who mislaid to CPI(M)’s Antony John successful 2021, struck a assured note. “I americium afloat confident. The radical of Kothamangalam privation for a change. The constituency has gone done 10 years of developmental paralysis. Even projects initiated during the erstwhile UDF word person been abandoned,” helium said. While his supporters expressed assurance of victory, immoderate onlookers termed it a “tough fight”.
Standing atop an unfastened jeep, helium said his priorities see completing pending projects specified arsenic the Thankalam-Kakkanad four-lane road, the Chelad planetary stadium, and the Bhoothathankettu hydropower project.
LDF's Antony John during his predetermination run astatine Kothamangalam. | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT
Meanwhile, Left Democratic Front (LDF) campaigner Antony John, seeking a hat-trick win, met salient citizens and assorted groups up of a roadshow planned for aboriginal successful the day.
The CPI(M) person appeared relaxed portion interacting with priests and nuns astatine Mar Mathew’s Boys Town, an acquisition institute successful Kozhippilly, his hometown. “This is wherever I attended my catechism classes,” helium said.
Away from the run noise, Mr. John outlined his grounds and responded to criticism. He highlighted achievements successful infrastructure, education, and healthcare, and pointed to the organisation of rubric deeds. On human-wildlife conflict, helium said preventive steps specified arsenic fencing and trenching were taken contempt challenges arising from the strict implementation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. “It is for the archetypal clip successful the constituency that MLA funds person been allotted to the Forest section for the deployment of a Rapid Response Team successful affected areas,” helium said.
Addressing disapproval implicit delays successful the Thankalam–Kakkanad roadworthy project, helium cited the request for a revised program successful enactment with Kerala Infrastructure Investment Board standards and questioned the inaction of MLAs from neighbouring constituencies on the route.
NDA's Aji Narayanan gathering voters. | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) campaigner Aji Narayanan, meanwhile, was successful Varappetty connected the last limb of his conveyance campaign. Addressing BJP-led beforehand supporters, the BDJS person flagged issues specified arsenic potable h2o shortages, deficiency of sports facilities for youth, and persistent postulation snarls.
He criticised the determination chosen for a nationalist crematorium. “The crematorium is being built adjacent to a dumping yard. I americium not consenting to instrumentality the remains of my parents there. I would alternatively donate the bodies to a authorities aesculapian college,” Mr. Narayanan said.
