A little late in the day, but on January 18, the Congress high command appointed Oommen Chandy, the former chief minister and AICC (All India Congress Committee) general secretary, to lead the party’s campaign in the assembly election scheduled for April 6. The 77-year-old’s re-entry into state politics seems to have energised party workers as the campaign heats up to dethrone the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government.
Party sources say it was a veteran leader and former defence minister A.K. Antony who was instrumental in bringing back Chandy. The Congress leadership had estimated that with leader of the opposition Ramesh Chennithala and PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) chief Mullappally Ramachandran pulling in opposite directions, something drastic had to be done. Sources say the affable Chandy has helped iron out issues in the party and the United Democratic Front (UDF) alliance.
The Congress-led UDF needs at least a 42 per cent vote share to make a comeback in the state. It was far behind on the target in the local body elections held in December last, managing only a 37.9 per cent vote share. With a major ally, the Kerala Congress (Mani) or KC(M) faction, joining the LDF, it may lose a 2.5 per cent vote share in central Kerala which has been a bastion of the Congress in the past. The Muslims in the north and the Christians and Nairs in central Kerala have been the backbone of every Congress victory in the past.
Esta historia es de la edición March 22, 2021 de India Today.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición March 22, 2021 de India Today.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
ARTS AND THE MAN
In his centenary year, F.N. Souza: The Archetypal Artist tries to make sense of the recurring themes in the artist’s work
The Reluctant Art Critic
Advertising executive, art critic and possible catalyst of the modern Indian art movement, Rudolf von Leyden was an intriguing figure in pre-Independence Bombay
PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST & POET
ANINDYO ROY’S THE VICEROY’S ARTIST IS A FICTIONALISED ACCOUNT OF EDWARD LEAR’S TRAVELS IN INDIA
Lady of the Light
This artist has transformed the humble bulb into a thing of beauty
S'more to Think Of
Called Marshmallow, this penthouse in Gurgaon with soft curves and plush aesthetics stays true to its name
A Marvelous Melange
From stylish living quarters to multipurpose adaptive space, this home in Mumbai turns every nook into a showstopper
TECH MEETS TEXTURE
Smart fabrics and intelligent textiles are changing the way we view home furnishings
Refresh and Revive
That old table, those cabinets or even the console can be given a new lease of life, one that is tailor-made to the latest trends
Standout Spaces
Want dramatic interiors but don’t know how? This home in Mumbai becomes a lesson in learning the nuances of adding magic inside.
Vernacular Wise
Forget international brands and design, the beauty and simplicity of local materials and ancient techniques is gaining momentum