VS riding high on popularity wave | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

VS riding high on popularity wave

None | By, Malampuzha
Apr 25, 2006 09:36 PM IST

The party is still brooding over issues, but for electorate, Achuthanandan is their CM, reports Ramesh Babu.

The party is still brooding over the contentious issue, but for the electorate of Malampuzha, Velikakath Shankaran Achuthanandan is their chief minister.

HT Image
HT Image

They cheer him wherever he goes: "Lead us, we're behind you." A wily politician, he's careful enough not to ruffle his opponents' feathers, at least for now.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Not surprising because Achuthanandan has more enemies in the party than outside.

That is why the other day he snubbed the scribe of a national channel who asked some embarrassing questions: "You are asking use less questions."

Often blunt and unpolished, this copybook Marxist neither has the intellectual calibre nor the sophistication of a JNU-educated Marxist. But this school dropout's words are sharp enough to make his critics wince.

The public outcry against the party for denying him a ticket and the Politburo's historic reversal of its own decision virtually made him a hero. Surrounded by a halo of greatness, the 83year-old crisscrosses the state with the energy of a 25-year-old.

And the party is exploiting his newfound charisma. Whether it will treat him with the same respect after the election is an interesting question.

In the race to build a red fortress in Kerala, he has little time for his own constituency, Malampuzha.

After filing his papers two weeks back, he returned to the place only the other day. His electorate knows well that his hands are full.

Malampuzha, known for its scenic splendor, has never deserted the reds. Though last time he saved his skin with a slender margin of 4,700 votes, the scene is different now.

With his newfound status and the CM candidate tag, he is unassailable there. The sweltering heat of April (usually the temperature is 2-3 degrees higher than the state average) fails to dampen the poll heat. Since VS is in their midst, workers feel doubly energised.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Ramesh Babu is HT’s bureau chief in Kerala, with about three decades of experience in journalism.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On