The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has begun campaigning for its general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty in the Malappuram Lok Sabha byelection to be held on April 12. The party kicked off its work in its home turf way ahead of others.
Banners and hoardings of Mr. Kunhalikutty were raised at major towns across the seven Assembly segments that constitute the Malappuram Parliament constituency. Social media too were flooded with his posts soon after his name was officially announced at Panakkad.
Malappuram comprises the Assembly segments of Perinthalmanna, Mankada, Kondotty, Manjeri, Malappuram, Vengara and Vallikkunnu. All of them are currently in the hands of the IUML. But the leads the IUML MLAs scored in Perinthalmanna and Mankada were only marginal in the 2016 Assembly elections.
The IUML took the early advantage by announcing its candidate on Wednesday evening and launching the electioneering work on Thursday.
The party started to implement its poll strategy when other parties were yet to declare their candidates.
Mr. Kunhalikutty has reportedly contacted all major parties in the State, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
More than winning the byelection, maintaining or improving the lead remains the IUML objective. The Malappuram byelection by all means is a matter of prestige for the IUML.
Party president E. Ahamed, MP, whose death brought about the byelection, had secured a record margin of 1.94 lakh votes against CPI(M)’s P.K. Zainaba in Malappuram in 2014. In the 2009 election, Ahamed had secured a lead of 1.15 lakh votes over CPI(M)’s T.K. Hamza.
The byelection will be the third ballot for the Malappuram parliament constituency since its formation in 2008.
The IUML will hold its district working committee meeting here on Saturday. The first parliamentary convention of the UDF will take place on Monday.
