Election campaigns started in Kollam and Kottayam: preparations in Thiruvananthapuram and Attingal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The UDF has started its Lok Sabha election campaign in some constituencies before the LDF announced its candidate list. While RSP's NK Premachandran will be the UDF candidate in Kollam, Kerala Congress Joseph faction's Francis George has entered the fray in Kottayam.

Wall campaigns requesting votes for Premachandran have appeared in many places in Kollam. Posters have also been put up in various places. UDF is confident that Premachandran will win in the constituency again. Even as the Left Front is raising allegations about Premachandran, the sitting MP, for attending the Prime Minister's feast, it is not affecting the campaign activities. Premachandran is advancing by meeting prominent personalities of the constituency, visiting various institutions and soliciting votes. The LDF is considering the current MLA and actor Mukesh to win back the constituency.

UDF candidate Francis George will be facing the sitting MP Thomas Chazhikadan of LDF in Kottayam, where the Kerala Congressmen are fighting for both fronts. As part of the campaign, the UDF candidate offered prayers at the graves of Oommen Chandy and KM Mani. Francis George is busy meeting various religious and community leaders and representatives seeking support. Posters and wall paintings have been lined up at important places in the constituency.

Flex boards will be erected at intersections within two days. Kerala Congress sources stated that conventions will be called and the official campaign will be started after the official announcement of the election date.

The Congress has also started preparations in some places. Shashi Tharoor and Adoor Prakash have started preparations in Thiruvananthapuram and Attingal respectively. Both of them have almost completed their booth-level activities focusing on various assembly constituencies. Wall paintings have started to appear at many places in the constituency for Adoor Prakash. The CPM will field V Joy, the district secretary and current Varkala MLA in Attingal.