Local body elections; fronts gear up for preparations

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: All three fronts in Kerala have entered the campaign to prepare the ground for the local body elections. The first phase is public relations as part of the indirect campaign. The CPM and the Left Front see the declaration of Kerala as a waste-free state and the fourth anniversary of the government as an opportunity for this. The Congress is strengthening its public relations by holding family gatherings at the ward level. The BJP has started working by forming committees at the district and constituency levels to plan local body election activities.

In the context of the government declaring the state as garbage-free on March 31, the party's state secretary M.V. Govindan had said that the CPM workers would take it up as a mission. This is in view of the local body elections. A week-long program has been planned from the 25th to the 31st of this month by 38,400 branches, and local, area and district committees.

The government's fourth anniversary is being celebrated at the local body level in April and May, with no other objective. Four regional meetings are also being organized in May under the leadership of the Chief Minister to disseminate the government's achievements.

Congress with target of 20,000 family gatherings

The Congress has held 9,000 family gatherings. The target is to hold 20,000 family gatherings by April. The work is being done by ensuring public participation, including honouring senior leaders. Another program is to activate ward committees and issue identity cards to presidents. This has been completed in Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta districts. It will be held in Kollam today. The goal of organizing the centenary programs of the Sree Narayana Guru-Mahatma Gandhi meeting is no different. It will be completed by April 15.

BJP Game Plan ready

Although the activities have not been planned as NDA, BJP has formulated a precise game plan. The recent workers' meeting attended by district presidents in Thiruvananthapuram is part of this. Initial steps including identifying candidates have also been started. Even the draft list of candidates has been prepared for the Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur corporations, where the BJP is hoping to win. The list may change depending on the political situation.