Thiruvananthapuram: Core issues needing attention suffers, as mudslinging between UDF and LDF take over the first round of LS poll campaigns in the state.
Issues including corruption, farmers’ suicide, and mob violence get sidelined in the muckraking between the two fronts.
Many among the leadership of both fronts resent drifting away of focus from the archrival, BJP.
However, earlier LDF and UDF grilled BJP in both parliament and outside on a slew of core issues.
In the run-up to polls, both fronts train their guns at each other over the question of archrival, while wooing caste and religious votes.
However, the duo declared their main slogan as ousting of BJP from power for bringing in a secular government.
Issues that matter still stare in the face which include: Rafale deal, beef ban, cow protection gangs, encroachment of constitutional institutions, currency ban, offshore black money, price fall of agriculture produce, GST, oil price, and Jammu Kashmir issue.
Both fronts haven’t yet brought these issues to the fore. These core issues are being sparingly mentioned only in the speeches by left leaders including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.