Confidence vs Development @ Kazhakoottam

Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
02 Apr 2011

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The once remote Kazhakkoottam, which now finds a prominent place in the world’s IT map with the setting up of Asia’s first IT park, is witnessing a fierce battle between the two candidates who pin their hope on two different aspects; changes in political demography and development initiatives.
Two-time MLA M A Vaheed, who is the UDF candidate, is cashing in on the development programmes that he has initiated in the Kazhakkoottam constituency over the last one decade, whereas LDF candidate, C Ajayakumar of the CPM, is pinning his hopes mainly on the changes in the political demography of the constituency.
Following delimitation, certain parts of the constituency such as Andoorkonam, Kadinamkulam and Pothencode where Vaheed as well as the UDF had a strong influence, got detached from the Kazhakkoottam constituency. Similarly, certain other areas such as Ulloor and Kadakampally, where the LDF got an upper hand, have been attached to the constituency.
"The changes brought about by the delimitation process is indeed an advantage to the LDF, besides various other factors," Ajayakumar told ‘Express’ amidst his busy election campaigning near Ulloor on Friday.
However, the two-time MLA Vaheed is trying to overcome this adverse factor by highlighting the developments he had initiated in the constituency and nearby areas during the past one decade.
"I do not need an introduction in Kazhakkoottam as the people here know me very well. I made this possible with the massive developments I have brought in to the constituency over the past one decade. Kazhakkoottam now has all the facilities as that of a city,” says Vaheed.
For the people of Kazhakkoottam it was quite a different experience to watch Vaheed travelling in an open jeep, as he often travels through the constituency on his Yezdi motorcycle. “Indeed, Vaheed is more familiar to us than Ajayakumar,” says a shopkeeper at Sreekaryam.
Countering the claims of Vaheed with regard to the development initiatives, Ajayakumar, who was a former chairman of the Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority, lists out the development initiatives he had initiated which includes new shopping complexes and road widening.
While Vaheed lists out the infrastructure development he had brought in, Ajayakumar counters it.
"Many panchayats in Kazhakkoottam are still waiting for electricity and other basic infrastructure. Is it the type of development that we require?” Ajayakumar asks.
Among the list of development initiatives of Vaheed are the film and video park and the apparel park of KINFRA. “Both the projects would not have attained the present heights without my initiative,” says Vaheed.
Both the UDF and the LDF candidates are claiming credit for the development of the Technopark over these years. However, both the Fronts have decided to keep off Technopark campus from campaigning. “We do not want to disturb the atmosphere on Technopark campus and hence, are not campaigning on the campus though a good number of IT professionals are now voters of the constituency, "says Vaheed. Amidst the positive and negative factors that both the Fronts share, the UDF and the LDF are quite neck and neck in the campaign front and both the candidates are confident of making it with a clear majority.
In the meantime, the BJP candidate is also pinning hopes on the changes brought in by delimitation.
“With the delimitation, various areas such as Karikkakom, Cheruvaikkal and Edavakode where the BJP has a considerable support, are attached to the constituency. Hence, it will be advantage BJP this time,” says party candidate Padmakumar.
Padmakumar, who is confident of giving a tough fight to both the UDF and the LDF, is mainly highlighting the ‘failure’ of both the Fronts in bringing development to Kazhakkoottam, especially with regard to the development of roads.