Thiruvananthapuram, May 14 (IANS) After a gap of nearly fifteen years, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram again witnessed scenes of political frenzy on Thursday afternoon as Chief Minister-designate V. D. Satheesan arrived to a thunderous welcome from jubilant party workers and leaders.The last time the state Congress headquarters had seen such euphoric scenes was in 2011, when then Chief Minister-designate Oommen Chandy arrived after leading the UDF to a na…
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Thiruvananthapuram, May 13 (IANS) In a matter of hours, Kerala will know the name of its next Chief Minister, bringing an end to days of intense suspense, closed-door negotiations and political manoeuvring within the Congress-led UDF.Whoever finally emerges from the high command’s deliberations will enter not merely the government secretariat, but also a distinguished and turbulent chapter of Kerala’s political history, as the 13th individual to occupy the state’s highest office since its …
Thiruvananthapuram, May 5 (IANS) After a big win in the Assembly elections and trouncing the Left Front, the Congress party finds itself in the midst of an open contest for the top post, turning a predictable transition into a high-stakes race.In earlier decades, the question of leadership rarely invited prolonged uncertainty.When stalwarts like K. Karunakaran, A.K. Antony and Oommen Chandy rose to the Chief Minister’s office, the path was largely clear.Karunakaran went on to hold the post fou…
Thiruvananthapuram, May 4 (IANS) In a result that blends legacy, simplicity, and political momentum, Chandy Oommen is racing towards a historic victory on a humble bicycle, as his margin crossed the 50,000 mark on Monday afternoon.The son of two-time former Chief Minister, late Oommen Chandy, Chandy Oommen’s campaign stood out in a crowded and high-decibel electoral season.Eschewing the usual fanfare, he ran a low-key campaign with minimal publicity material, relying instead on direct voter en…
Thiruvananthapuram, April 25 (IANS) Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan on Saturday alleged that Kerala’s emerging power crisis and unannounced load shedding were the result of the state government scrapping long-term electricity purchase agreements, claiming corruption was the motive behind the decision.He demanded the immediate withdrawal of power restrictions, warning of strong protests by the UDF if the situation continues.Calling the outages amid intense heat a challenge to the peopl…
Thiruvananthapuram, April 22 (IANS) With Kerala waiting for the vote counting day on May 4, the electoral suspense may be overwhelming, but is marked by an intriguing question — what happens to the precedents set over a decade by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan?If Vijayan secures a rare third term, continuity is the obvious storyline.But if power shifts to the Indian National Congress-led UDF, the spotlight will swiftly turn to whether those very precedents, once criticised, suddenly become acc…
Kochi, April 13 (IANS) In a notable judicial endorsement of election conduct in the state, the Kerala High Court has placed on record its commendation for the Election Commission for ensuring a visually clean and disciplined campaign season.Hearing the case Rahul K.T vs St. Stephen’s Malankara Catholic Church & Others, Justice Devan Ramachandran recorded the appreciation after amicus curiae Harish Vasudevan submitted that the state had been largely spared the usual proliferation of boards, f…
Thiruvananthapuram, April 11 (IANS) As Kerala awaits election results, one figure looms larger than any other in the state’s political landscape, Pinarayi Vijayan. Now 80, the veteran CPI(M) leader is seeking a historic third-consecutive term as Chief Minister, a feat no leader in Kerala’s political history has achieved.Vijayan’s political style has always been defined by a tough, no-nonsense demeanor, markedly different from his Congress counterparts.Leaders like K. Karunakaran, A.K. Anto…
Thiruvananthapuram, April 9 (IANS) Veteran Congress leader A.K. Antony on Thursday set the tone for the United Democratic Front (UDF) campaign narrative, predicting a historic victory in Kerala and asserting that a strong anti-incumbency wave would bring an end to the decade-long rule of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.Antony said the mood for change has been evident from the early days of campaigning, but intensified significantly in recent days.“This will be a verdict stronger than what we s…
Thiruvananthapuram, April 7 (IANS) Expressing strong confidence ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday asserted that the United Democratic Front (UDF) is headed for a “fairly clear-cut win”, citing widespread anti-incumbency against the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government and growing public desire for change.Dismissing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prospects in the state, Tharoor termed it a “zero-seat party” in the Kerala Assembly …