LS poll fire in 'Venice of the East'

ALAPPUZHA: CPM's only Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, Alappuzha, is in the heat of Lok Sabha poll competition. The battle intensified in the 'Venice of the East' as the Left Front see this seat as an inspiration for a 'raging fire' of the left across Kerala, the UDF to regain the lost constituency and the NDA against both fronts. Alappuzha constituency comprises Aroor, Cherthala, Alappuzha, Ambalapuzha, Haripad and Kayamkulam assembly constituencies and Karunagappally in Kollam.

Karunagappally has been a part of Alappuzha since 2009. AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal was appointed by the Congress to wrest back the constituency from sitting MP AM Arif. Sobha Surendran is the NDA candidate.

AM Arif (LDF)
The aim is to protect secularism and democracy in country as BJP poses threat to it. All the people who want the country to remain undivided will vote against BJP. The central government's new rules are aimed at helping corporates and dividing the country. The centre does not sanction development projects worthy of the constituency. I made strong intervention. Rs 2660 crore was sanctioned for doubling of coastal railway. Rs 10 crores for the National Institute of Virology. Alappuzha Bypass became a reality through hard work. When 14 Kendriya Vidyalayas were closed in the country, Kayamkulam was maintained through legal process. When Akashvani stations including Thiruvananthapuram were closed, they were kept in Alappuzha. Utilization of MP funds reached 100 percent.

KC Venugopal (UDF)

The aim is to save the country from communal forces and protect secularism and the constitution. There is no peace with communalism. INDIA bloc and Congress aim at sustainable development and people's welfare. CPM and BJP are under one umbrella. Youth, farmers, workers are all cheated. Alappuzha has never been abandoned. The development of the last five years is only in banners. Drinking water problem is acute. The coir-fisheries have stagnated. Public anger against the state government will be reflected. Salaries and pensions of employees were withheld. There are no essentials in SupplyCo. Not even rations are available. No medicine in hospitals. Welfare pension and welfare schemes have been suspended. Farmer suicide have become regular story. People will punish LDF by giving all 20 seats to UDF.

Sobha Surendran (NDA)

Narendra Modi's leadership should continue for development progress in the country. NDA will implement development projects to change the face of Alappuzha and improve the living standards of people by implementing development projects. People want a strong government at the centre for comprehensive development of traditional employment sectors, health, education and tourism. Congress and CPM are failures in terms of development. MP has not given a single petition for the basic development of Alappuzha for five years. The Congress candidate who is a former minister also did not interfere in the development of Alappuzha. The construction of the bypass in Alappuzha was completed due to the intervention of the Modi government. More than 300 central projects have been sabotaged. Answer: The government and Kerala are in a state of crumble.