Kasaragod municipality having a sizeable Muslim population is all poised to witness a key triangular contest with the LDF-INL-Development front this time fielding nominees in all the 38 wards.
The BJP, the second largest party in the municipality, has geared itself for a formidable fight to upset the traditional sway held by the IUML as the electioneering enters the last leg.
The ruling UDF is contesting in 36 seats with the IUML fielding 23 candidates followed by Congress (12) and RSP (1).
The BJP has put up candidates in 24 influential wards hoping to register a clean sweep to unseat the UDF which has been holding the mantle of the municipality for over a quarter-a-century.
The UDF enjoys a comfortable majority with IUML winning 21 seats and Congress (2) with two more seats going to the IUML rebels in the 2010 polls.
The BJP managed to win 11 wards while the CPI(M) had to be content with just one seat in the polls. The Development Front cobbled by the IUML rebels this time extended support to the LDF-INL alliance and has even threatened to erode the traditional votebase especially in Muslim pocket of Thalangara where an UDF rebel is hoping to unseat the official nominee.
If the Development Front manages to wreck the traditional IUML votebase, it could make the poll outcome a bit unpredictable giving scope for BJP to improve its tally.
If the reported winning edge enjoyed by LDF-INL Chemgala district panchayat division candidate Nazeera is able to influence the voting pattern in the neighbouring municipal wards, the poll outcome could spoil the IUML’s winning chances.
