All three political fronts in Kerala are seeking to create a new record by attempting to win the upcoming by-election in the Pala assembly constituency on September 23.

The by-election has become mandatory following the death of Kerala Congress (Mani) founder KM Mani in April 2019. While he first won in 1965, he could not take oath as the state was placed under President’s rule till two years later.

The winner will create a record as it would be the first time since 1965 that a person other than Mani will represent Pala.

The political fight is heating up as the top leaders of the three major fronts have entered into the final phase of election campaigning for the Pala byelection.

They include the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Sunil Deodhar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Congress general secretary Oommen Chandy. The Left Democratic Front hopes to improve its appeal in the final phase lining up its heavyweights, including Vijayan and other Ministers.

“The Left has nothing to campaign on its good governance as every scheme that Mani in his long years as minister gave to the state has been pulled out by this government. All they are saying is the difference of opinion in the UDF. We will have an easy victory,” said Chandy.

“People in Pala are seeking a change as all along for several years, it was the ‘two leaves’. The response to our candidate has been good,” said Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan after campaigning in the constituency.

Local Nationalist Congress Party leader and film producer Mani C Kappen is the candidate of the Left Democratic Front (LDF). He is hoping to take advantage of the tussle between Joseph and Jose K Mani.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has, however, nominated N Hari who contested for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2016 Assembly elections as well.

The state chief minister along with senior Communist Party of India leaders K.E. Ismail, Pannian Ravindran, and P.Prasad, will also address the voters and hold rallies in various parts of the state.