As the motorcade crawls past rural roads, old men, women and children rush out of their homes. Wherever Achuthanandan goes his fans and followers ensure to make it a show of strength.
MALAMPUZHA: VS Achuthanandan does not seek votes. Touring his constituency Malampuzha, VS stands on the dais stoically telling his voters: “I know many people without any political leniency are campaigning for me. I salute, salute, salute (in his trademark style) all people who have come out against those who loot our state.”
As the motorcade crawls past rural roads, old men, women and children rush out of their homes. Wherever he goes in Kerala, his fans and followers ensure to make it a show of strength.
In Kanjikode, VS is Veera Sakhavu (valiant comrade). KV Ramachandran, a farmer, says, “VS is our most sincere leader. He should be our chief minister.” VS opponent’s, however, expand his initials as Vikasana Shatru (anti-development). “That’s because he doesn’t allow them to plunder our resources,” Ramachandran counters.
Speeches praise VS’s fight against ganja cultivators, sandal smugglers and polluting companies. Kanjikode Industrial Development Area, which comes in VS’ constituency, has lost some 200 companies in the last five years. Natives accuse the companies of stealing electricity and groundwater.
Water is a perennial problem in this arid land bordering Tamil Nadu. A Rs12-crore drinking water project has been credited to VS, the incumbent MLA. His popularity partly comes from his relentless opposition to industrial pollution.
At noon, VS’s entourage is behind schedule. Children mob him. Eighty-year-old Janaki blesses 83-year-old VS, who bows his head. “He is a good man,” she says. That’s VS Achuthanandan, the veteran who commands a youthful loyalty.
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