The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) are preparing for a stiff battle to win the Kozhikode constituency in the elections to the State Assembly on April 13.
Arguably, unlike the previous elections, mainstream political parties are keeping their fingers crossed, not sure which way the result would go. For both the Fronts, it is the toughest test so far, especially after the realignment of political forces favouring the Congress-Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) combine.
A brief history of the Assembly elections in the district indicates the LDF has an advantage. Even a pro-UDF wave in 2001 failed to break its bastions. But the keenly-fought Lok Sabha elections in 2009 dealt a blow to the Left parties, losing both the Kozhikode and the Vadakara constituencies. Assembly-wise statistics showed the UDF polled more votes than the LDF in 9 out of the 13 segments. After the setback, the LDF managed to bounce back in the September 2010 local body elections, winning the Kozhikode Corporation, both the Koyilandy and Vadakara municipalities, the district panchayat, the majority of the block panchayats and 37 out of the 75 grama panchayats in the district. However, its main constituent, CPI(M) has been incapable of quelling the rebellion at Eramala, Onchiyam, Azhiyoor and Chorode grama panchayats. The open defiance still poses the threat of another backlash in the Vadakara region.
The UDF, which secured a foothold in a few Left pocket boroughs in the last two elections, is yet to electrify the electorate with the anti-incumbency factor. It will have to fight a strong bid to win back its strongholds, including Koduvally, Thiruvambadi and Koyilandy segments, which it lost to the LDF in the last polls.
Campaigning is hinged on the development agenda and the popularity of candidates in most constituencies. Nevertheless, strong undercurrents in some could be decisive in determining the poll outcome. The Left parties are fiercely touting what they claim the government's people-friendly programmes whereas the Congress-IUML combine is confident of repeating its sterling performance, after having tasted success with its new-found ally, Socialist Janata (Democratic) (SJD), a breakaway faction of the Janata Dal (Secular).
Eight legislators and a Minister in the outgoing Assembly are in the fray. Two former Ministers are also contesting. Industries Minister Elamaram Karim is seeking re-election from Beypore, considered to be a fortress of the CPI(M). Here, the Congress has fielded Adam Mulsi, a debutant in Assembly polls. An uphill task awaits the LDF in defending its two prestigious urban seats — Kozhikode South and Kozhikode North. IUML State secretary M.K. Muneer is locking horns with the young Corporation councillor C.P. Musafir Ahammed, son of veteran CPI (M) leader C.P. Kunhu, who had earlier represented the constituency and had been defeated by Dr. Muneer.
In the neighbouring Kozhikode North, the Congress has chosen industrialist and film producer, P.V. Gangadharan to take on A. Pradeepkumar, who has been credited with bringing a slew of projects to Kozhikode. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has fielded A.K. Saseendran, Balussery, MLA, from the new Assembly segment, Elathur. The SJD candidate, Sheikh P. Harris, is likely to pose a stiff challenge to him.
George M. Thomas and K.K. Lathika, both CPI(M) legislators, are contesting from Thiruvambadi and the freshly carved out constituency of Kuttiyadi, respectively. The IUML has given the ticket to C. Moyinkutty to capture the Thiruvambadi seat, and nominated Soopy Narikkateri, grama panchayat president, Nadapuram , to fight Ms. Lathika at Kuttiyadi. Two legislators are pitted against each other at Kunnamangalam. IUML-backed Independent U.C. Raman will face P.T.A. Rahim of the LDF who now represents Koduvally segment. Here the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded its national executive committee member, C.K. Padmanabhan, making the battle a triangular one.
It is a make-or-break elections for sitting MLA M.K. Premnath of the SJD and former Minister C.K. Nanu, of the Janata Dal (Secular) at Vadakara. Here the CPI(M) dissenters, who formed the Revolutionary Marxist Party, have fielded, N. Venu, former president of Eramala grama panchayat.
Another sitting MLA, K. Kuhammed, is contesting from Perambra. The Kerala Congress (M) has given the ticket to Mohammed Iqbal to halt the winning streak of the CPI (M) in the last several polls in this segment.
The former municipal chairman K. Dasan of the CPI (M) and the former Youth Congress president, K.P. Anil Kumar are in the fray in the coastal segment of Koyilandy. Kozhikode Cooperative Bank District president M. Mehaboob, on CPI(M) ticket, is in the race from the Muslim-dominated constituency of Koduvally. V.M. Ummer of the IUML, with methodical campaigning, hopes to regain the party's lost glory here. The CPI nominated a fresher, E.K.Vijayan, to retain the Nadapuram constituency, which has been marred by violence for almost a year. The UDF candidate is V.M. Chandran, fighting in his home turf. This is perhaps the only constituency in the district where candidates are canvassing votes with promises of bringing enduring peace to the strife-torn region. Purushan Kadalundi, who resigned as secretary of Kerala Sahitya Akademi is contesting as CPI (M) candidate from the reserved Scheduled Caste segment of Balussery, another red citadel. The Congress has chosen a Gandhian, A. Balaram, to upset the applecart of the Left parties.
