All major political parties in Kerala are geared up for a high-voltage pre-election campaign with Yathras planned all across the state and national leaders in tow to add a touch of paraphernalia.
Various Yathra details are doing the rounds online with almost seven being planned, a probable first in Kerala’s political march towards the 2016 Assembly election.
These yathras are scheduled to cover the 140 assembly constituencies in the state, almost always beginning from the northernmost Kasargod district and culminating in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram at the southern end.
All eyes would be on Kumannam Rajasekharan leading the BJP yathra in a pre-election move aimed at finally opening its hitherto elusive Assembly account in the state.
“Kerala Jana Raksha Yathra” led by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President VM Sudheeran was inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy no less, at Kumbala in Kasargod on January 4 and will conclude with a massive rally in Thiruvananthapuram on February 9.
Its focus would be to reportedly highlight the need to fight communalist and fascist forces “espoused by the Sangh Parivar” as well as deride the violent politics indulged in by the CPI(M).
Sudheeran said that “Development and Care” would be the slogan under which the United Democratic Front would showcase its various achievements in the course of the said yathra.
CPI(M) politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan too is all set to spearhead his party’s yathra the “Nava Kerala March” scheduled from January 15 to February 14 and to be flagged off by party leader Prakash Karat.
That Pinarayi and not former Kerala CM VS Achuthanandan is leading the march has also triggered speculation vis-à-vis the Left’s chief ministerial candidate.
Indian Union Muslim League’s ‘Kerala Yathra’ is being headed by State Industries Minister PK Kunhalikutty and is scheduled from January 24 to February 11.
CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran will lead the “Janakeeya Yathra” and is to be inaugurated on January 27 by the party’s National General Secretary Sudhakar Reddy.
The BSP’s “Bheem Ratha Yathra” began on January 1 and is due to end on January 31 in Thiruvananthapuram.
NCP’s Yathra from January 20 to February 9 too is being planned as part of the pre-election campaigning in the state.