The Malaparamba ward of the Kozhikode Corporation is witnessing one of the most keenly watched electoral battles in the three-tier local body polls in the district. Here the Congress has nominated K.C. Shobita, daughter of District Congress Committee president K.C. Abu, while the CPI (M) its firebrand DYFI leader K. Sini.
Now Ms. Shobita represents the Paroppady ward and Ms. Sini, Eranhipalam.
Their parties shifted them to Malaparamba as the ward has been reserved for women this time.
BJP district vice president Ramani Bhai is another important contestant here.
Their enthusiastic campaigns hinge on the development initiatives carried out by them in their wards. Ms. Sini resides in the limits of Malaparamba while Ms. Shobita’s residence is just a stone’s throw away across the Florican Road.
The ward is spread over Karaparamba, Karikamkulam and Florican Road regions. Incidentally, a major portion of Malaparamba junction lies in adjoining Paroppady.
The ward is predominantly a residential area. It has water-logged areas such as Ayyappankkavu and Vellurthazhathu. Absence of a drainage system and accumulation of garbage are among the major issues here.
About 40 per cent of the electorate belong to Muslim community in the ward that has 5,000-odd voters.
There seems to be an undercurrent against the ruling coalition. But how the BJP candidate performs will influence the winnability of the main contenders.
The ward, which was represented by Deputy Mayor P.T. Abdul Latheef of the CPI(M), has its own peculiarities. Many believe that the party that wins from the ward will perhaps secure a majority in the civic body.
Last time, the CPI (M)-led LDF came to power only because it won 17 out of the 20 seats from the three grama panchayats merged to the corporation before the polls.
Its majority was seven seats against the Congress-led UDF in the 75-member council. That means the LDF got 25 seats and UDF, 30 from the wards in the city limits.
Last time, Prof. Latheef scrapped through with a margin of 76 votes. This has been attributed to the votes he garnered from new households including the Kairali Nagar.
In 2005, Rathi Devi of the CPI(M) won with a margin of 1,300 votes.
But the LDF had the electoral tie-up with the Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran), a splinter Congress group floated by K. Muraleedharan.
