Bypoll: UDF,LDF lock horns over development, corruption planks

Congress-led ruling UDF and CPI(M) headed LDF are locked in a fierce battle for the June 27 Aruvikkara by-election in Kerala, seen as a semi-final for the rival fronts ahead of civic elections later this year and next year's assembly elections.
UDF is seeking votes in the assembly by-poll on the plank of its development initiatives in the past four years, while opposition is leaving no stone unturned harping on various corruption charges against the government as it seeks to score a morale boosting win ahead of the main electoral battle next year.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, heading the UDF campaign, has rejected the allegations as "baseless" and has expressed confidence that they would not in any way impact the poll outcome.

CPI-M veteran and opposition leader V S Achuthanandan, the star campaigner and crowd puller for LDF candidate M Vijaykumar, a former Assembly speaker and minister, has slammed the UDF rule saying "government's only contribution is corruption and hardship to people".
The government has been under attack over the bar bribery scam involving Finance Minister K M Mani, the solar scam and alleged corruption in PWD department.
"Charges are baseless and people of the constituency would vote for the development and care policy initiatives of the government", Chandy told PTI during his campaign trail at Aruvikkara, a constituency near the state capital.

CPI-M's "politics of violence and anti-development stand" will be given a befitting reply by the people on the polling day, he said, adding, "people are also watching the hurdles they (CPI-M led LDF) are putting in the development plans of the government".

On the solar scam that is haunting the government since 2013, Chandy said recent conviction of the prime accused -- Sarita S Nair and her accomplice Biju Radhakrishnan, in one of the connected cases was a "clear indication that the probe is on the right direction."
UDF is going all out to retain the seat, which fell vacant following the death of then Assembly Speaker G Karthikeyan.

Top leaders of the front, including Ministers and MLAs, are virtually camping in the constituency for days together and sweating it out for the victory of Congress candidate K S Sabarinath, son of Karthikeyan.
"Sabarinath has good acceptance in the constituency", Chandy said adding "there is no problem for his victory".