The UDF in Kerala in its manifesto for the forthcoming local body polls has promised to provide free Wi-Fi at all local body offices, holding an annual diaspora meet and propagation of organic farming.
The manifesto for the Congress-led United Democratic Front was released here on Tuesday in the presence of former defence minister A.K. Antony and the top leadership of all parties in the UDF.
Kerala goes to the polls on November 2 and 5 to elect 21,871 representatives across 941 village, 152 blocks and 14 district panchayats besides 86 municipalities and six corporations.
The local bodies elections are crucial to the Congress-led UDF as the tenure of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s government comes to an end in six months and elections to the state assembly become due.
At the event, Antony blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party national president Amit Shah for creating a divide in the state on communal lines.
“They are trying to disturb the peace that prevails in our state by infusing communalism. But the people of Kerala will give them a befitting reply,” he said.
In the 2010 local body polls, the UDF won more than 60 percent of the seats for the first time.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said: “The BJP says one thing and does something else. Their communal attitude will lead to their downfall.”
He said, “Because of its long-standing enmity towards us, the CPI-M just wants to play spoilsport to the development needs of our state as they oppose our every step.”
After the meeting, the UDF allies engaged in talks to settle differences over seat sharing.
“We have been able to move a lot forward as far as seat allotments are concerned. At most places we have been able to iron out the difference…,” state’s Congress president V.M. Sudheeran told reporters.
The Congress-led UDF appears to be in a buoyant mood as the Chandy government has been able to launch numerous development projects with just around six months of its tenure remaining.
IANS
