UDF’s tie-up with Welfare Party could be a talking point in Mukkom

The Congress-led United Democratic Front’s (UDF) tactical tie-up with the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind-backed Welfare Party of India (WPI) in select divisions in Mukkom municipality in Kozhikode district had hit the headlines in 2020. While the arrangement benefited the coalition in the civic body and in a couple of grama panchayats in the vicinity, the Congress and its allies faced an electoral backlash elsewhere in the State after their political rivals took it up as a major campaign issue.

With the 2025 local body polls getting nearer, the possibility of a similar arrangement this time as well is already doing the rounds. A prominent UDF leader from the region told The Hindu that the seat discussions were only in the early stages. At present, talks were being held between the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) alone, he said, adding that the influence of the WPI in select areas of the municipality could not be ignored.

A.M. Aboobacker, IUML leader, meanwhile, said that a petition against the current ward delimitation process in the State was expected to be taken up in the Supreme Court on November 6. The character of certain divisions could change based on the court ruling. Mr. Aboobacker said that further talks on seat sharing could be held only after that.

However, local sources said that a section of leaders and local activists in both the Congress and the IUML were against an understanding with the WPI as it had reportedly alienated a section of Hindu and Christian voters from the UDF in other districts the previous election.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Independents it supported had bagged 15 seats in 2020 while the UDF, its Independents and the WPI together got as many divisions. Two seats went to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Another seat was won by a rebel candidate, who was earlier with the IUML. Finally, the LDF managed to come to power with the support of the IUML rebel, Mohammed Abdul Majeed. The WPI had won Kanakkuparamba, Mangalassery, and Pulparamba divisions with the help of the UDF. This time, the number of divisions has gone up to 34. Though Mr. Majeed voted in favour of a no-confidence motion piloted by the UDF last year, the LDF did not lose power as the NDA members abstained from voting.

In the 2015 local body polls, when the WPI supported the LDF, the Left coalition won a majority on its own with 18 members and the WPI won three seats. Then the UDF had 10 seats and the BJP and the Loktantrik Janata (LJD) Dal one each.

Meanwhile, WPI district leaders said that the party would definitely contest in at least four seats, three of its sitting seats and another one, in the elections if there was a tie-up with the UDF. If it failed to have an arrangement, the WPI would field candidates on its own in 11 divisions, they added.