CPI to take on Kodikunnil Suresh of Congress in Mavellikara Lok Sabha seat

MAVELLIKARA (KERALA): Congress leader and Union Minister of State for Labour Kodikunnil Suresh will face stiff challenge in his Mavellikara Lok Sabha constituency from CPI's Chengara Surendran, who had humbled the former in 1998 and 2004 polls.

A six time MP, Suresh is contesting from Mavellikara for the second time. He suffered defeat at the hands of Surendran in 1998 and 2004 polls at nearby Adoor (SC reserved) segment, which ceased to exist following the constituency's delimitation.

In the 2009 polls, Suresh defeated R S Anil of CPI by a margin of more than 48,000 votes.

The poll history of the constituency, known for its religious harmony with a strong historical and cultural background, favoured LDF only twice in nine parliament polls held since 1980.

Mavellikara, which became a reserved constituency after delimitation, has a mixed population ranging from non-resident Keralites to farmers and cashew industry workers.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurian was elected five times to the LS from Mavellikara constituency and state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala was also elected to the Parliament from this seat in 1999.

The main themes of the UDF campaign are development works initiated by UPA-11 and the state government.

Suresh said entry of Employees State Insurance Corporation ( ESIC) into the medical education sector was a major contribution of the Labour Ministry.

"Setting up of Medical College under ESIC in Parippali in Kollam district was another major achievement. Five Medical Colleges under ESIC are coming up in various parts of the country. I am getting a good response from people of the constituency," Suresh told PTI.

Contradicting UDF candidate's claim, Surendran said as an MP and Union Labour Minister, Suresh had not addressed issues of more than one lakh workers in cashew factories. The constituency has a total of about 150 cashew factories.

"The issue of minimum wages to cashew workers and payment of gratuity arrears to workers is a major problem," Surendran told PTI.

Surendran said lapses in the implementation of "Kuttanad package" for rejuvenation of the agriculture sector was also a point being highlighted by the LDF.

Soaring prices of essential commodities is also a major poll campaign of LDF, he said.

CPI-M's firebrand woman candidate C S Sujatha had in 2004 defeated State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, who was elected in 1999 Parliament from this seat.

Assembly segments like Chaganassery in Kottayam district, Kunnathur (SC), Kottarakara and Pathanapuram in Kollam district and Kuttanad, Mavelikkara and Chegannur of Alappuzha district come under Mavelikkara Parliamentary constituency.In this, four assembly segments are with UDF and three with LDF.

Besides the main political rivals UDF and LDF, BJP's R M Vellayudhan is also in the fray. The party has a sizable number of votes in the constituency,evident from the fact that Vellayudhan polled more than 41,000 votes in the last election.

According to political observers the presence of the BJP candidate could determine the victory chances of both UDF and LDF candidates.

The total electorate in the constituency is 12,22,049 49, of which 6,47,262 are women.