Campaigning for Kerala bypoll ends

KOCHI: Public campaigning for the Aruvikkara assembly bypoll, in which the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are locked in a three-cornered contest, ended on Thursday. Earlier in the day, former CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said that after the Aruvikkara by-election, the UDF would disintegrate. He said that the UDF government would not last long after the by-poll.

Vijayan alleged that the UDF alliance was an arrangement to promote corruption and cover it up. He said that the Election Commission was taking an approach that was helpful to the Congress.

KPCC president VM Sudheeran said that the CPM was using its leader VS Achuthanandan for Aruvikkara but after the election he would face party action. Speaking about the derogatory way in which VS Achuthanandan referred to Congress leader AK Antony in one of his speeches in Aruvikkara, he said the choice of words was a reflection of the low levels to which Achutha nandan has sunk.

Antony too said the remarks by Achuthanandan crossed limits of decency. He lacked tolerance, he said. He said that the people of Aruvikkara would reply to the remarks made by Achuthanandan by defeating the Left Front. Although arch rivals the LDF and the UDF are claiming high chances of victory, the entry of the BJP into the contest has made the outcome unpredictable.

This `CM' Won't Go without Giving Big CM a Real Fight

CHENNAI: Curtains came down on the campaign for the crucial June 27 by-poll to the Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly segment being contested by chief minister J Jayalalithaa that saw cadres of her rival CPI candidate C Mahendran turning out in large numbers on the last day.

Although there are a total of 28 candidates in the fray, the battle is effectively between Jayalalithaa and CPI's C Mahendran, addressed by his comrades as 'CM'. This has prompted the Left parties to dub the electoral battle as a 'CM vs CM fight.' The CPM is also backing Mahendran.