O J's corner --REFLECTIONS

Tonight would not end for political leaders in Kerala. It would be nightmares for them whose political future would be dependent on the Assembly election results coming out within hours. Results would start trickling in at 8 am on May 11( IST).

An election debacle for Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in Puthuppally, veteran Kerala Congress(M) leader K M Mani in Pala, Kerala Congress(J) leader in Thodupuzha would be unthinkable for them.

For several terms together, Oommen Chandy and K M Mani have been getting returned to the Assembly consecutively.

With the winds of change sweeping over the State, giving an edge to the LDF, the UDF is poised to lose governance. Still they cannot think of Chandy , Mani and the like getting defeated.

On the other side of the fence, suppose the Chief Minister-sure V S Achuthanandan gets trounced at Malampuzha, other senior leaders of CPM like Paloli Mohamedkutty would be the front runners for Chief Ministership.

The possibility is remote for Achuthanandan to taste defeat this time. But then, one may have to contend with the unpredictability of politics.

For P J Joseph, who was shown the door at Thodupuzha last time, another defeat would mean disintegration of the Kerala Congress (Joseph) group. He can't bear another humiliation.

What if the rivals of Thomas Isaac in Mararikulam, M A Baby in Kundara and Alphons Kannamthanam in Kanjirapply romp home to victory.

It would be Ministership falling off from them.

Likewise, so many stalwarts are fence-sitters this time.A majority of them have been seeking solace in places of worships . Pilgrim centres of sacred persuasions have been inundated with visits and supplications of political bigwigs.

Only hours are left, they cannot sleep, but only seek solace in the precincts of holy places.