If the United Democratic Front (UDF) can hope to retain the IUML-dominated Kasaragod municipality and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) faces little challenge in Neeleswaram where the CPI(M) enjoys traditional support base, the real fight in the district this time is in Kanhangad municipality where the UDF has been virtually holding the mantle for nearly 25 years.
The UDF managed to rule the 43-ward municipality by sheer luck winning 21 seats, one short of simple majority, as the CPI(M)-INL combination and the BJP could muster 17 and five seats respectively in 2010 polls.
Coupled with anti-incumbency factor, the winning prospects of the UDF has been marred, thanks to the stiff challenge posed by UDF rebels in as many as nine wards.
However, the CPI(M), after sorting out some initial seat-sharing hiccups with the INL and the CPI, has managed to rope in support from the trading community by fielding commonly acceptable Independent faces.
Having fielded nominees in all seats, the BJP also faces rebel threats in its stronghold wards no 5 and 9 and the vote split would be a deciding factor.
IUML leader N.A. Khalid, also former municipal chairman, claimed that the UDF would touch the simple majority mark of 22 with his party set to secure at least 13 wards.
CPI(M) district committee member and municipal chairman aspirant V.V. Rameshan exuded confidence that the LDF would improve its tally winning 24 to 27 seats by unseating three traditional IUML and two Congress wards.
The LDF is hoping to wrest two seats from the BJP while the Congress would secure a poor four seats, he said.
However, a BJP contestant expressed the hope to improve its tally to eight seats from the present five.
