Kochi, March 22 (IANS) A grizzled politician and a seasoned bureaucrat will match their wits to win over Kerala's commercial capital, the Ernakulam Lok Sabha seat.
The two veterans are former union minister of state and four time member of parliament K.V. Thomas and Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Christy Fernandez, a Gujarat cadre officer who also was secretary to former president Pratibha Patil.
While Thomas's nomination as a Congress candidate may not have caused surprise, Fernandez throwing his hat into the poll ring has raised many eyebrows.
The 1973 batch IAS officer is contesting the elections as an Independent, with backing from the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).
One would believe the task ahead for Fernandez is arduous, if not ominous, because the man he is up against is a familiar face in Ernakulam.
Thomas has already represented this constituency four times in the past, besides having been a minister in the Kerala government.
He also appears to be on a strong footing now, despite having to scrape out a narrow win against CPI-M candidate Sindhu Joy in the 2009 polls.
Thomas can draw "joy" from the fact that since the first general elections only once has a CPI-M candidate won from here. The Congress has come up triumphs 11 times of the 16 elections held here so far.
The Ernakulam constituency has seven assembly segments and in the 2011 assembly polls, the Congress-led United Democratic Front won six of them.
While his inclusion in the union cabinet as a minister of state with independent charge for consumer affairs, food and public distribution was unexpected, his stamp on the United Progressive Alliance's flagship Food Security Bill clearly embossed his credentials and underlined the confidence his party has in him.
Meanwhile, Fernandez will have to bank on past trends for hope. He would perhaps like to recall and relive the feast of Sebastian Paul, who as an Independent won thrice with the support of the CPI-M.
The retired babu has dismissed talk about him being an outsider in the constituency, claiming he has an 18-year-old association with the city here and has a huge number of friends and well-wishers.
Kerala which will elect 20 members to the Lok Sabha goes to the polls April 10.
In the days leading to election day, the rival candidates are expected to leave nothing to chance.
The campaign is expected to go into top gear and all eyes will definitely focus on the battle between these two Latin Catholics fighting to 'evangelise' Ernakulam's voters.
Omar Congratulates Sayeed, takes a dig at BJP
Srinagar, March 1 (IANS) National Conference leader Omar Abdullah Sunday wished new Jammu and K
Manipur Blast: 3killed, 4 injured.
On Sunday, three people were killed and four others injured in a
Explained: Where does virus go from here?
रविवार को, भारत में कोरोनावायरस से
Former Indian all-rounder said – Team India is not out of the tournament due to one defeat
Former India all-rounder Yusuf Pathan has said that the Men in Blue (Team India) is not out of th
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned of a food shortage in the country. He s
Jagdalpur, April 10 (IANS) Polling began Thursday in Chhattisgarh's Bastar Lok Sabha constituenc
Former NZ Skipper Fleming to Participate in World Cup opening ceremony
Christchurch, Feb 8 (IANS) Former New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming will take part in
Amarinder's open letter to Modi on 'criminalised' politics
Amritsar, April 24 (IANS) Congress candidate from Amritsar Amarinder Singh Thursday asked BJP l
UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam 2020: UPSC Civil Services Pre Exam 2020 will be conducted on Oct
BJP leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has arrived in Himachal Pradesh today
