As the district is gearing up for counting of votes on Thursday 19, there is an air of anxiety in the political circles here as they are busy making calculations and predictions on the poll outcome in different constituencies here.
The exit poll figures have boosted the morale of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) here which anticipates more seats in the district. The United Democratic Front (UDF), however, has put up a brave face saying that exit poll predictions have no connection with reality.
The parties and candidates here are bracing for the results, assessing and re-assessing their chances of win in the election here. In private, the UDF circles say that the UDF will be pleased if it can maintain the 2011 tally in the district. In the 2011 election the UDF secured five seats, while the LDF got six seats.
While the District Congress Committee president K. Surendran said that the UDF would secure a historic victory in the district, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader M.V. Jayarajan exuded the hope of a ‘historic’ victory for LDF in the district.
The LDF camp is more upbeat because of the exit poll predictions saying that the UDF may lose a few seats here, including Koothuparamba where Agricultural Minister K.P. Mohanan is its candidate. Koothuparamba and Azhikode are the two constituencies here that saw fierce campaign.
While K.K. Shylaja of the CPI(M) is pitted against Mr. Mohanan in Koothuparamba, in Azhikode, the incumbent K.M. Shaji of the Indian Union Muslim League faced tough contest against CPI(M) candidate M.V. Nikesh Kumar.
The LDF circles say that there was a wave of support for the LDF in the district. The tally of the UDF will be reduced to that in 2006, they say. In 2006, the UDF won just two seats, which later rose to three after the breakaway faction of the Janata Dal led by M.P. Veerendrakumar joined the UDF. Political circles here anticipate no miracles in Payyannur, Taliparamba, Kalliassery, Mattannur and Thalassery, which are the CPI(M)’s pocketboroughs. Besides Koothuparamba and Azhikode, Irikkur, Peravur and Kannur are the constituencies that the UDF won in 2006.
In private, UDF circles say the front will be pleased if it can maintain the 2011 tally
