Constituency watch Azhikode: Videos, selfies & the boy-next-door image

Kannur: The main rivals in Azhikode, UDF's K M Shaji and LDF's M V Nikesh Kumar have more or less the same promises to make, which is based on development and creating employment opportunities. Hence the constituency presents the picture of a `decent' contest without mudslinging at the personal level.
Both candidates have ensured their presence on the ground and in social media.Nikesh uploads daily videos on issues pertaining to the constituency while Shaji counters it with `professionally shot' videos that showcase the development he brought in the constituency and his dream project the Azhikkal port.

For the CPM, winning Azhikode is a matter of prestige. The party had lost the segment narrowly , when Shaji won it last time with a margin of 493 votes.
A CPM-stronghold, the party had tasted defeat here only once ­ in 1987 ­ that too at the hands of M V Raghavan, who contested under the UDF banner after he floated a new party CMP , to take on the CPM. Now, with his son Nikesh Kumar contesting under the CPM banner and as a leader of CMP faction, the party seems to be looking forward to avenge a defeat.
But it's not an easy game? "If you travel in the constituency , it gives a feeling of development. The roads have improved, the Azhikkal port, which was just in papers, has showed some signs of becoming a reality . The handloom village has also been realized," said industrialist C Jayachan dran, who lobbied for the development of Azhikode.

Social worker and activist M K Manoharan counters the view. "Development is not just about widening of the roads and installing high-mast lights. There should also be development at other fronts like health and environment," he said.
But even CPM sympathizers do not deny that there has been development. "Though I belong to a CPM fam ily, I would not say there is no development here, but if you ask me whom would I vote for, I won't reveal it now," said Ratheesh S, an auto driver.
The CPM is betting big on the star value of its candidate ­ a television personality ­ and his influence among the youth, especially college students.The fact that he is M V Raghavan's son, would also help him politically, the party feels.
On the other hand, the BJP is hopeful of increasing the vote share this time. They expect their candidate A V Keshavan to deliver a satisfactory performance, because there are over 12,000 new voters in the constituency. The presence of a rebel candidate P K Ragesh is posing a headache for the UDF.