THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The election battle is intensifying now that there is a clear picture of the candidates after the withdrawal of nominations. New problems have popped up for all three fronts.

After Latika Subhash shaved her head in front of Indira Bhavan and shocked Congress, KPCC vice-president KC Rosakutty, a former MLA and former chairperson of the Women's Commission, left the Congress. The NDA was also hit hard with the rejection of the nomination of its own candidates in three constituencies. The Sabarimala issue, which was considered a closed chapter, is once again engulfing the LDF.

A setback for the NDA

After the nomination of candidates in Thalassery, Guruvayur and Devikulam constituencies were rejected, the BJP has decided to support an independent candidate in Devikulam. In the absence of such candidates, the NDA's plan in the other two constituencies is of utmost political interest.

UDF continues to get hit

KC Rosakutty's resignation from the post of KPCC vice-president came as a complete surprise following Lathika tonsuring her head and PC Chacko leaving the party for NCP. Though the leaders tried desperately to persuade her, she even resigned the primary member of the party, and within hours she joined the Left camp.

Sabarimala is hard for LDF

Apart from the NDA and UDF, the NSS is also raising the issue of Sabarimala. NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair said yesterday that the Left leaders are crossing the limit on the issue. He said there will be setbacks if customs and rituals are ignoed. At the same time, the Left Front is putting up a strong defense.

Variation of constituencies

After much controversy in the UDF, the Congress decided to hand over the Elathur seat to the NCK, and the local Congress leader Dinesh Mani reluctantly withdrew the petition. The district leadership is trying to resolve the opposition within the party in giving the Elathur seat to the constituent party.

The LDF was relieved when the returning officer accepted KP Sulaiman Haji's nomination in Kondotty. Sulaiman Haji's petition was postponed on a complaint by the UDF that he had concealed certain matters, including property information.