UDF breathes easy with Thiruvalla victory

The hotly contested by-election to the Thiruvalla assembly, which had given many a nightmare for the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) coalition in Kerala, favoured the UDF candidate Elizabeth Mammen Mathai of the Kerala Congress (M).

Elizabeth, who was contesting the election that was necessitated by the death of her husband Mammen Mathai, came out a clear winner over the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate Varghese George with a majority of 4,669 votes.

"The women of the constituency played a key role in the victory. My husband's close rapport with the people of the constituency helped in large measure. I'll be a people's MLA" said Elizabeth.

She polled 41,453 votes, against the 36,784 votes polled by Varghese George. The victory margin, however, was much smaller than what Mammen Mathai earned in 2001. The BJP candidate Pratapachandra Varma came a poor third, polling only 7,684 votes.

The victory comes as a much-needed boost to the A.K. Antony government, which has been under incessant pressure from within the Congress party, with the 'I' group in the party led by K. Karuna-karan calling for a change of leadership in the state.

A relieved Antony told newsmen in Delhi that the victory was an acknowledgement of the trust of the people in the present UDF ministry. "I specially thank the voters of Thiruvalla for supporting the UDF government at a crucial juncture," he said in Delhi.

Kerala Congress (M) leader K.M. Mani was also a relieved man, having been under pressure as the 'I' group kept off the election campaign for the UDF candidate.

Towards the end of the counting of votes when Elizabeth's victory was a near certainty, he went to the counting station himself, and by 10.30 am UDF supporters were already celebrating on the streets, assured of their candidate's victory.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President K. Muraleedharan, however, smelt a BJP hand in the victory, suggesting in Delhi that there may have been a sell out of BJP votes to favour the UDF candidate.

His views were sharply countered by All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Vayalar Ravi, who said he could not find the words to describe a KPCC President who did not seem happy with the UDF candidate's victory.

LDF leaders attributed the victory to a polarisation of caste-based votes and pointed out that the UDF's victory margin was considerably reduced, pointing to the government's reduced support among the masses.