CPM pins big hopes on silent & strong warrior in Kerala's Alathur

The poll campaign of LDF candidate in Alathur, K Radhakrishnan, which began nearly two months ago, has been attracting large crowds over the past few weeks. On Tuesday, a large gathering of the public, including women and children, lined both sides of the road to greet the candidate in Kunnamkulam.

Radhakrishnan’s election campaign had officially begun on Feb 27.

During the campaign, he sustained bruises on his hands and injured the fifth toe of his left leg. However, the cabinet minister and a five-time MLA from Chelakkara, appears unaffected.

“Beyond everything comrade Radhakrishnan is an honest man who has brought several development projects to Chelakkara. I am sure people of Alathur will consider this when they cast their votes,” Arjun V, a voter, said.

Meanwhile, another voter said, “Women voters will be the key in these elections. The Congress candidate regularly holds conversation with women and tries to strike a chord with them. However, Radhakrishnan is lagging on this aspect.”

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had attended Radhakrishnan’s political rallies last week. A makeshift auditorium set up near Ottupara bus stand in Wadakkanchery was the centre stage for the LDF campaign in Alathur.

Thousands flocked to the auditorium venue even hours before the event where an eight-member music band played a mix of revolutionary and folk songs. Each song accompanied a resounding applause from the crowd. Their performance concluded with the iconic song ‘Bali Kudeerangale’ and by that time the CM entered the stage.

Vijayan held Radhakrishnan’s hand and waved to the crowd. In his speech, Vijayan made scathing remarks against Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi for the economic policies of the UPA II govt. He also criticized the central govt for its discrimination against the state by denying assistance during the 2018 floods and for not allotting AIIMS to the state.

The CM also hailed Radhakrishnan saying that the candidate can handle multiple positions with utmost responsibility.

Radhakrishnan stays with his mother at his two-storey house near Thonoorkara govt school near Chelakkara. The house is adorned with a blooming golden shower tree and inside the house one can see a photograph of former CM EMS Namboodiripad placed beside the numerous awards Radhakrishnan has received.

Radhakrishnan said the upcoming elections are crucial as the democratic institutions are under threat. Referring to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest, Radhakrishnan said, “If a CM is not spared, the nation is heading to a situation which is worse than the Emergency period.”

However, Radhakrishnan refrained from commenting on the performance of sitting Congress MP and his rival candidate Ramya Haridas. “I have never in my political career made statements on the merits or demerits of an individual candidate. The work which I have done for the Chelakkara constituency is public and I challenge the opposition to have a debate on the progress of Chelakkara in the past 25 years,” Radhakrishnan said.

The LDF has also published a booklet listing out the development activities undertaken in Chelakkara constituency during the tenure of Radhakrishnan.