This time, Malappuram is going to the polls with five more spanking new Municipalities, taking their total number to 12. The battle in all the municipalities here is keen. Although the United Democratic Front (UDF) enjoys an advantage over the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the breakdown in the relations between the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Congress in two new municipalities has given fresh hopes to the CPI(M).
In Kondotty municipality, the IUML is going it alone while the Congress has joined the anti-IUML Janakeeya Munnani led by the LDF, giving up its party symbols in many places. The battle for the 40 wards of the newly formed Kondotty may well turn out to be a cliff hanger.
Parappananagadi is another newly formed municipality where conventional political equations have gone haywire. A section from the Congress has joined hands with the LDF to take on the IUML there. The BJP too has a good vote share in the 45-ward Parappanangadi municipality.
The LDF is seemingly confident of wresting power in Perinthalmanna and Ponnani municipalities.
At present, all but Perinthalmanna municipality are governed by the UDF. The margin of seats between the LDF and the UDF in those two municipalities was very thin in the 2010 elections, when the results of the other municipal bodies had weighed heavily in favour of the UDF.
The LDF is focusing its attention and resources on Perinthalmanna, Ponnani, Valanchery and Kondotty municipalities. “We are certain about Perinthalmanna and Ponnani. We’ll come close in Valanchery,” says LDF leader V. Sasikumar.
The LDF has resorted to a strategy of supporting Independent or Janakeeya Munnani candidates in places where it does not have a strong footing.
The UDF hopes are high in Malappuram, Manjeri, Tirur, Kottakkal, Nilambur, Tirurangadi, and Tanur municipalities. The chairmanship of Kondotty municipality is reserved for Scheduled Caste.
Interestingly, seven of the 12 municipalities will have women chairpersons this time. They are Malappuram, Manjeri, Nilambur, Parappanangadi, Tirurangadi, Tanur, and Valanchery.
In Kondotty municipality, the IUML is going it alone while the Congress has joined the anti-IUML Janakeeya Munnani led by the LDF, giving up its party symbols in many places.
