The State’s largest district with 122 local bodies including 12 municipalities remains an Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) bastion, with the party currently in power in over 90 per cent of civic bodies here.
However, this time, many panchayats, such as Chokad, Kalikavu, Porur, Moothedam, Karuvarakundu, Edappatta, Marakkara, Ponmundam, Anakkayam, Areekode, Pulamanthol, Vengara, Kannamangalam and Oorakam are seeing a worsening fratricidal battle over seat sharing within the United Democratic Front (UDF). The spat has spilled over even to sharing seats for the new Kondotty municipality.
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Despite UDF attempts to dismiss the worsening fracas as preparations for some “friendly fights” between partners, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is clearly seeing an opportunity in the faceoff. It wants to project chances of something like the 2005 poll verdict, which had put the Left in power in all municipalities, and one-third of the grama panchayats.
“We hope to secure at least 30 panchayats and the municipalities of Ponnani and Perinthalmanna this time,” said V. Sasikumar, CPI(M)’s former MLA.
The BJP is in the fray in almost all local civic bodies. The general feeling is that it may win a handful of wards. But other fringe players like the INL, the SDPI, and the Welfare Party are yet to show signs of packing an impact.
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The IUML and the Congress are visibly well equipped, despite their ongoing strife, while the LDF apparently lacks a strong leadership in the district. The BJP is sparsely manned in Malappuram but it is hoping to do well in the first ever poll after Narendra Modi’s ascension and its backwash.