The leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Mr Ommen Chandy began his election campaign in Puduppally constituency in Kottayam on Monday morning. The constituency has returned him nine times in the past, making him one of the very few politicical figures in the state to enjoy such unwavering public support. Mr Ommen Chandy will be addressing election meetings at various places in Pamabady, Meenadam and Vakathanam, before concluding his campaigning for the day in Puduppally Panchayat. Addressing public meetings at a few places in Pambadi panchayat, Mr Ommen Chandy criticized the LDF rule during the past five years, which he said had taken the state backward by 15 years. He said differences between CPM and Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan has badly affected the development of the state. Meanwhile, the LDF candidate Suja Susan George, who is taking on Ommen Chandy in Puduppally, is vigorously campaigning in various places in the constituency. She is appealing for a change in the constituency, besides asking voters to re-elect the LDF to ensure a corruption free rule in the state. The BJP has fielded the Kottayam District Secretary P Sunil Kumar as its candidate, who is presenting his party as a true alternative to the UDF and the LDF.