Significant presence of the Congress, Left parties, Socialists, Sangh Parivar, and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has always made Kozhikode a showground for political battles.
If the Congress-led UDF won both its Lok Sabha seats, Kozhikode and Vadakara, in 2009 and 2014, it was the CPI(M)-led LDF that had walked away with 10 out of its 13 Assembly seats in 2011, and 11 out of the 12 seats in 2006 polls. However, the Congress had to face the ignominy of not sending an MLA from the district in the last 10 years.
Now as campaigning hinges on local, State and national issues, the LDF hopes to re-run its spectacular performance even as the UDF steps up its electioneering machinery.
The Left coalition has put itself apparently in a favourable position over its rival alliances, the Congress-led UDF and the BJP-led NDA, though it’s once-irrefutable edge is getting blunted.
Both legislators, A. Pradeepkumar [CPI(M)] and M.K. Muneer (IUML) appear to have done their homework flawlessly well in their constituencies, Kozhikode North and Kozhikode South respectively, thus giving an advantage over their key opponents.
Similarly, NCP legislator A.K. Saseendran is likely to repeat his feat from Elathur. Likewise, former CPI(M) district secretary T.P. Ramakrishnan oozes confidence of romping home from this red citadel.
Nevertheless Congress nominees K. Praveen Kumar and N. Subramanian in Nadapuram and Koyilandy respectively are giving a tough fight to LDF's sitting legislators E.K. Vijayan and K. Dasan.
IUML candidates M.K. Rasak (Koduvally) and V.M.Ummer (Thiruvambadi) should have won hands down from these traditional UDF strongholds had not for some underlying factors.
The CPI(M) has strategically backed an IUML rebel at Koduvally while the UDF candidate faces opposition from Thamarassery Diocese-backed Malayora Vikasana Samithi.
The hostile fronts are more or less equally poised at Kunnamangalam, Beypore, Vadakara, Balussery, and Kuttiyadi Assembly segments, all held by the LDF.
Former Youth Congress president T. Siddique is taking on in a no-holds-barred contest LDF-backed sitting legislator P.T.A. Rahim at Kunnamangalam, while Kozhikode Mayor V.K.C. Mammed Koya of the CPI(M) faces a strong challenge from another firebrand Congress leader M.P. Adam Musli in Beypore.
The entry of K.K. Rema into the fray has turned Vadakara into a four-cornered electoral battle. CPI(M) legislators K.K. Lathika and Purushan Kadalundi, who are seeking a second term from Kuttiyadi and Balussery, are on a sticky wicket.
The BJP-BDJS alliance has thrown up a scare in many constituencies such as Kozhikode North and Kunnamangalam.
