ith the end of the time for withdrawal of nomination papers on Monday, the United Democratic Front (UDF) found itself caught in the web of rebel candidates with nine of them challenging official nominees in as many constituencies.
The party’s official candidates in Kannur, Irikoor, Azhikode, Peravoor, Chenganoor, Kochi, and Devikulam would have to put up with rebels, while the Kerala Congress (M) will have its candidates in Kuttanad and Ettumanoor facing rebels. Indian Union Muslim League (IUML)’s K.M. Shaji will have to face a rebel in P.K. Raghesh, who was in the lime light in the local body election. However, leaders of the Congress and other UDF constituents dismissed the rebel presence of no consequence going by the fate of such candidates in the past. Rural Development Minister K.C. Joseph will run into Binoy Thomas, a Karshaka Congress office-bearer, in Irikkur. In Kannur, Satheeshan Pacheni of the Congress will have to face N.P. Sathar, while sitting MLA Sunny Joseph will have to face K.J. Joseph in Peravoor.
Former Congress MLA Shobana George is posing a challenge to Congress nominee and sitting MLA P.C. Vishnunath in Chengannur. In Kochi, Dominic Presentation will have to face K.J. Leens. In Kuttanad, Kerala Congress (M) candidate Jacob Abraham will have to reckon the presence of Jose Kozhipalli and Thomas Chazhikadan will have to deal with Josemon Mundackal in Ettumanur. The rebel menace in four of the five sitting seats in Kannur district would deny it a psychological advantage. In Azhikode, the presence of a Congress rebel has annoyed the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). It is not clear what kind of impact it would have in the relations between the two parties, but Congress rebel P.K. Raghesh had proved that he could be good at the game of politicking soon after the local body election. He had emerged the balance in a divided Corporation council and chose to throw his weight behind the LDF.
Mr. Shaji had won the Azhikode seat in 2011 by 473 seats in a tough battle. This time he is against M.V. Nikesh Kumar of the CPI(M) and the rebel presence could complicate matters for him. In Chengannur, Ettumanur and Kuttanad, the UDF would face tough time because it would widen the winning margins in these constituencies.
