LDF, UDF begin post-poll deliberations in Kozhikode

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) have begun deliberations over the results of the recently concluded elections to the local bodies in Kozhikode. While the LDF has much to ponder over the drubbing in some of its traditional strongholds, the UDF is elated about the more-than-anticipated victory of its candidates across the district.

The LDF suffered a major setback this time which is reminiscent of the situation after the 2010 elections. The front had retained power in the district panchayat with a majority of one seat then. In the Kozhikode Corporation, it had won 41 seats against the UDF’s 34. The UDF had also won 38 of the 75 grama panchayats then.

This time, the UDF has been able to come to power, for the first time in history, in the 28-member district panchayat by bagging 14 seats and the support of the Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) candidate who won from the Azhiyur division. The LDF could get only 13 seats, five less than last time. What added to the embarrassment was the defeat in some of its citadels in the Vadakara-Perambra belt such as Azhiyur and Chorod. The UDF could benefit from its tie-up with the RMP in these places. The UDF-RMP coalition also retained grama panchayats such as Onchiyam and Eramala. The RMP, for the first time, got two councillors in the Vadakara municipality. The LDF also lost a number of grama panchayats across the district, where it had been in power for consecutive terms.

However, the Congress is taking up damage control steps following the defeat of its mayoral pick for the Kozhikode Corporation, P.M. Niyas, who lost to the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) Harish Pottangadi. The district Congress committee has set up a panel involving Nanu Master, DCC executive committee member, and T.K. Rajendran, DCC general secretary, to inquire into the allegation that factional feud could have played a role in the embarrassing episode.

According to K. Praveenkumar, the panel will also find out the reasons behind the party’s dismal performance in Mukkom and Vadakara municipalities and Atholi and Karassery grama panchayats.

Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] is yet to make any public announcement over the reverses suffered by the party in Kozhikode. The number of LDF councillors and Independents in the corporation has come down from 51 to 35. The defeat of C.P. Musafar Ahmed, who was projected as a probable mayoral candidate, from the Meenchanda ward, is considered a major embarrassment.

In the 12 block panchayats, it could come to power in only eight. In 2020, it had won 10 block panchayats. Addressing the media recently, former CPI(M) district secretary P. Mohanan said that the party would seriously introspect the reasons for the defeat. Mr. Musafar Ahmed also said that necessary corrections would be made in the future.