The rival fronts are bracing for a no-holds barred contest to the 13 municipalities in the district. The United Democratic Front (UDF) hopes to do a repeat of its sweep in the previous elections, while the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is looking to wrest power this time round.
The LDF was almost blanked out five years back when all the 11 municipalities, except Muvattupuzha, voted the UDF to power. The stakes are even higher this time following the elevation of Piravom and Koothattukulam panchayats as municipalities. Both the camps are optimistic of their chances of a sweep. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in its attempt to increase its presence, has fielded candidates in the majority of the 421 municipal wards in the district.
V.D. Satheeshan, MLA and KPCC vice president, said the potential anti-incumbency factor has been eclipsed by sustained development works and almost a 200 per cent rise in investment in infrastructure development, thanks to a supportive State government.
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The UDF has identified Aluva, Kothamangalam and Perumbavur municipalities among its all-time bastions and is confident of retaining Tripunithura, which it wrested from the Left for the first time in 2010. Though the Congress factional feud gifted Angamaly to the Left towards the end of the term, the UDF is confident of winning it back.
The LDF, on the other hand, is sure of making a clean sweep on its own. Apart from wrenching back its lost citadels of Tripunithura and Paravur municipalities and retaining Muvattupuzha, the LDF fancies its chances in Kalamassery, Eloor, and Thrikkakara.
“Anti-incumbency and the multiple change of guard in the UDF-ruled municipalities owing to infighting will give us a sweep. Besides, a general perception is gaining ground that the Left should not be weakened to keep the secular flag fluttering,” CPI (M) district secretary P. Rajiv said.
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The BJP, meanwhile, is hoping to open its account in all municipalities. “We will be the principal Opposition in Tripunithura, Eloor and Muvattupuzha municipalities besides gaining four to seven seats each in the rest,” claimed BJP State general secretary A.N. Radhakrishnan.
Political analyst A. Jayasankar predicted that the LDF would make a comeback based on the historical precedence of the municipal bodies in the district returning rival political fronts to power alternatively.
He cited Paravur, Perumbavur, Kothamangalam, and Maradu among the sure-fire bets for the LDF.