Kerala UDF vows Re 1 a kg rice to BPL families

Differences among allies sorted out

The manifesto promised to provide 25 kg of rice at Re 1 to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and at Rs 2 per kg to other ration card holders.

The grievances of the Communist Marxist Party (CMP) led by former minister M V Raghavan and Socialist Janata (Democratic) of M P Veerendra Kumar have been “amicably” sorted out, front leaders said in a press meet.

The CMP will be contesting in Nenmara, Kunnamkulam and Dharmadam seats after it surrendered Nattika, offered earlier. The party on Wednesday rejected the offer of—Nattika, Kunnamkulam and Dharmadam seats — and decided to stay away from poll saying the three seats were the LDF strongholds.

The SJ(D) will put up candidates in Vatakara, Nemom, Mattannur, Kuthuparamba, Kalpetta and Elathur.

With the addition of Nattika seat, the Congress will be contesting 82 seats in the polls.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Oommen Chandy said the Congress had fielded sitting MLA in Chittor and so could not accept the demand of the SJ(D) for that seat and the CMP’s demand for Azhikode also was not acceptable to it.

In Udumbanchola in Idukki district, the Congress candidate would be Josey Sebastian and in Shornur Shyamala Jayaram, KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala said.

There was widespread discontent in the party over Sebastian’s candidature, but the party stuck to its decision. In Shornur, there were reports that the front would support M R Murali, leader of Janakeeya Vikasana Samithi, a platform of CPM rebels, who was expelled following his decision to cosy up to the Congress.

Chandy said the UDF was facing the elections with “full confidence.” The manifesto was a continuation of the programmes of the previous UDF rule.
Salient features

The other salient features of the manifesto are setting up of pepper and horticulture boards, backdoor appointments to be reconsidered, interest-free loans for purchasing computers and motorbikes for students, making Kochi metro project a reality, ensuring electricity connections to all households within one year and exploitation by operators of other state lotteries to be stopped.