Date:12/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/12/stories/2006051212100300.htm

Kerala - Kozhikode

LDF rewrites history in Kozhikode district

Biju Govind

Sweeps 11 of the 12 Assembly seats

Kozhikode: Creating a history of sorts the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) won 11 out of the 12 Assembly segments in Kozhikode district. It dealt a severe blow to the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the Assembly elections the results of which were declared on Thursday.

Not only did the LDF retain the seats it held in the last Assembly elections but also wrested the traditional seats of the UDF this time. In the 2001 elections, both the fronts had shared the seats in the district. This time, only the Indian Union Muslim (IUML)-backed independent candidate U.C. Raman managed to retain the Kunnamangalam Assembly seat. However, his victory margin was less than 300 votes. In the 1996 elections, when the LDF came to power, the UDF had won from Thiruvambadi and Koduvally constituencies.

The prominent losers in the district include Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) State president K. Muraleedharan, who was defeated by the LDF-supported independent P.T.A. Abdul Rahim in Koduvally constituency. Mr. Rahim, who was expelled from the IUML, trounced Mr. Muraleedharan by a margin of over 7,500 votes. IUML nominees had been maintaining a winning streak from this constituency since 1977.

Another major upset was that of Minister for Forests and Environment A. Sujanapal, who contested from the Kozhikode- I constituency. His debacle came at the hands of DYFI State secretary A. Pradeep Kumar, who won by a margin of over 7,700 votes. Last time, Mr. Sujanapal won the seat by a margin of over 8,000 votes.

In another key constituency, Koyilandy, DIC (K) leader P. Sankaran was routed by his traditional rival P. Viswan of the CPI(M). The former Minister for Health and Family Welfare in the A.K.Antony Ministry was beaten by a margin of more than 18,000 votes from this Congress bastion. Mr. Sankaran had won the seat by a margin of 6,400 votes against Mr. Viswan in the 2001 elections.

The other severe drubbings the UDF received this time round were at Kozhikode-II and Thiruvambady constituencies. Indian National League (INL) candidate P.M.A.Salam wrested the Kozhikode-II seat from IUML candidate T.P.M.Zahir, who won the seat in 2001 by a slender margin of 800 votes. This time he was defeated by a margin of over 14,000 votes. By winning the Kozhikode-II seat the INL has also opened its account in the Assembly. In an upset victory in Thiruvambady CPI(M) leader Mathai Chacko defeated IUML candidate M.C.Mayin Haji.

Janata Dal (Secular) district president M.K.Premnath won the Vadakara seat defeating his nearest rival Ponnarathu Balakrishnan of the Congress by a margin of over 21,000 votes.

Binoy Viswom of the CPI retained the Nadapuram seat by increasing his victory margin by over 17,000 votes. His nearest opponent was DCC president M. Veerankutty.

CPI (M) candidate K.K. Lalitha won from the Meyppayur seat defeating her nearest rival, T.T.Ismail of the IUML, by a margin of over 15,500 votes. Earlier, Mr. Chacko had won from this constituency. Another segment the CPI (M) registered its victory was at Perambra. Here, the party candidate K. Kunhammed defeated James Thekkanaddan of the Kerala Congress (Mani), by a margin of over 10,500 votes.

Elamaram Kareem of the CPI(M) won from Beypore with a thumping majority of over 19,500 votes against his nearest rival Ummer Pandikasala of the IUML. Beypore has never returned a UDF candidate in recent times. Last time V.C.Mammed Koya represented the constituency.

In another keenly contested election, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate A.K.Saseendran won the Balussery seat. He defeated his nearest opponent K. Balakrishna Kidavu of the Congress by a margin of over 14,000 votes.