THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Although only the UDF candidate Uma Thomas officially entered the fray, the excitement of the campaign in Thrikkakara has already reached a high. While the K-Rail controversy will be first debated in Thrikkakara, the LDF's campaign agenda focuses on a single issue- development.

Though there are indications that KS Arunkumar, the youth leader of the CPM, will be named the Left Front candidate, an official announcement will be made today by the CPM state secretariat.

Meanwhile, the BJP has handed over a three-member candidate panel to the central leadership, giving priority to state vice-president AN Radhakrishnan. The candidate may be announced from Delhi today. Apart from Radhakrishnan, A Saji and S Jayakrishnan are also on the panel.

The CPM has already announced that development will be the main topic of discussion in Thrikkakara. It alleged that the UDF's anti-SilverLine agitation was proof of the opposition's anti-development stand.

However, the UDF is intensifying its propaganda that the SilverLine will destroy Kerala economically and environmentally. Kakkanad in the Thrikkakara constituency is the only station of the SilverLine in the district. It is also the constituency from where the least amount of land will be acquired for the project. Hence, the concerns regarding the project may not be as strong as elsewhere in Thrikkakara.

It is also noteworthy that it was senior Congress leader KV Thomas who gave impetus to the Left's campaign agenda.

The LDF is claiming that the Thrikkakkara by-election will help the front increase its strength in the assembly to 100. LDF convener EP Jayarajan, who has been in the constituency from the very beginning, has been overseeing the campaigning activities. Opposition leader VD Satheesan is in charge of campaigning in the Congress, which sees the victory in Thrikkakara as a matter of pride.