Alathur (Kerala): Soon after being discharged from a Thrissur-based hospital, where 33-year-old Ramya Haridas, a popular Congress candidate from Alathur constituency, was undergoing treatment for the blunt injuries she had received in a stone-pelting incident on Sunday, said, "This is not the first attack on me. The fact that the CPI(M) is losing its grip on Alathur has completely rattled the Left Democratic Front (LDF). The people of this constituency have been electing P K Biju of CPI(M) as the MP, but this time they are supporting me, and I'm confident about winning. These attacks are a clear indication that the CPI(M) fears its defeat." Ramya, who is a trained classical singer, is the daughter of Radha, the current state secretary of the Congress' women's wing. At most of her election campaigns, she raised core issues through various songs to garner support.

"For the first time, an otherwise CPI(M) stronghold, is slowly and gradually supporting Ramya," said Anil Akkara, a Congress MLA from Alathur. Ramya alleges, "The CPI (M) had earlier tried to tarnish my image on social media by saying that singing was not allowed in the Parliament. And when I did not give any importance to this, they indulged in character assassination. I have given a written complaint to the police regarding this, but no action has been taken."