The Hindu (Thiruvananthapuram)
Left slams Tharoor for downplaying Pannian’s prospects of success
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has strongly criticised Shashi Tharoor, the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate in Thiruvananthapuram, for stating that his main rival is Rajeev Chandrasekhar of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), while implying that LDF’s Pannian Raveendran has minimal prospects in the election.
Such comments, the Communist Party of India (Marxist)led coalition alleged, are part of a political understanding aimed at providing mileage for the NDA campaign.
‘No triangular contest’
Asserting there is no triangular contest in Thiruvananthapuram, Mr. Tharoor told media persons a few days ago that the constituency is witnessing an electoral battle between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). LDF’s campaign, he added, has not yet made a significant impact, whereas the BJP has put up an “energetic” and “professional” poll campaign.
Addressing a press conference here, Food and Civil Supplies Minister G.R. Anil and Kazhakuttam MLA Kadakampally Surendran said Mr. Tharoor’s remarks smacked of arrogance. “The electorate in Thiruvananthapuram will answer him for his ridicule for Mr. Raveendran, who has stood by the people here throughout four decades,” they said.
Mr. Anil said “Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)minded” Mr. Tharoor had insulted the common populace in the past, citing the Congress leader’s controversial “cattle class” remark when he was Minister of State for External Affairs in 2009. Accusing Mr. Tharoor of striving to project the BJP as a major force in the electoral arena, Mr. Anil also claimed the UDF candidate had “declared” Narendra Modi as the next Prime Minister in a channel interview.
‘Fear of defeat’
Calling the Congress leader a “migratory bird” who visited the constituency every five years, Mr. Surendran blamed him for abandoning the constituency at moments of crisis, and also failing to press for its needs at the national level. His recent comments are borne out of fear of an imminent defeat, he said.
The LDF leaders also dismissed claims that Mr. Raveendran’s campaign faced an unenthusiastic response from workers of constituent parties in the coalition.
Vineeth Sreenivasan, from the wealth of his experience, appears to be acutely aware of the barbs that would be coming his way after a film’s release. In Varshangalkku Shesham, his sixth directorial, he launches a preemptive strike at such barbs by indulging in some uncharacteristic selfmockery. But then, let that not fuel expectations of Vineeth charting a fresh path. Once all the jibes directed at his own self are done, he slides back to his nostalgic, feelgood comfort zone, somewhere in Chennai.
Much of the story revolves around the friendship between Venu (Dhyan Sreenivasan), an aspiring screenwriter and filmmaker, and Murali (Pranav Mohanlal), a musician. As was the trend back in the 1970s, they head to Madras with dreams of making it big in cinema. Fortune wavers, showering them fame and failure in equal