CAMPAIGNING in the hotly contested state seat of Bukit Selambau, Kedah, has been relatively muted, with both the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) zooming in on each others’ Achilles heels in an escalating psy-war.
The three parties in the PR — Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), PAS and DAP — have been attacking the BN for continuing corruption, its toppling of the Perak government, and purported scandals involving the new Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The BN, on the other hand, has been zooming in on growing perception among Kedahans that the PR government here is lackluster compared to the new governments of Penang, Perak and Selangor.
Both BN and PR seem reluctant to address accusations from their opponents in their respective ceramahs and press conferences, and instead use these events to garner support for their respective candidates. The BN is fielding MIC’s Datuk S Ganesan, while PKR is fielding a novice, S Manikumar.
And, of course, everybody has a theory about the 13 independent candidates — that they will lose their deposits, are BN stooges or disgruntled PR members. But one thing is for sure, no one can say with any certainty who will emerge victorious in this by-election. Anything can happen in the remaining days leading up to polling day on 7 April. 
