Bypoll campaign peaks in Thrissur

THRISSUR: Campaign is peaking for the crucial byelection at Pullazhi division of Thrissur Corporation, to be held on Thursday. The bypoll was necessitated due to the death of LDF candidate M K Mukundan during the last election campaign.
The LDF has won 24 seats in the 55-member corporation council, while the UDF tally is 23. The NDA has won six seats. If the UDF wins the bypoll, they will have an equal number of members as that of the LDF in the corporation council, creating uncertainties in the continuation of the present ruling set up.
The LDF has fielded advocate M Ramankutty, who had also defected from the Congress.The deceased candidate Mukundan himself was a Congress rebel. “The overall favourable political atmosphere for the LDF in the state, after the local body polls will also be beneficial to the front nominee at Pullazhi,’’ said Ramankutty, who had won from the division as a Congress nominee in the elections in 2005.
The UDF has fielded Congress leader K Ramanathan. “I’m confident of a victory here as I was with the people of this division during the last five years, even though I was not a councillor,’’ Ramanathan said.
The byelection is crucial for BJP also as it could only win six seats in the corporation though it was hoping to make a much more impressive gain. The party has fielded Santhosh Pullazhi this time.