KANNUR: With Mattannur Municipality set to go for polling on August 8, political parties have entered the last leg of their campaigns with many state leaders visiting the wards. A total of 112 candidates are in the fray this time competing in 35 wards. In the 2012 elections, the LDF had 21 councilors and UDF got 13. This time, one more ward was created in the Municipality. At present, Bhaskaran Master, husband of Health Minister K K Shailaja, is the chairman of the municipality. Results will be declared on August 10.
Unlike other civic bodies, the elections to Mattannur Municipality is being conducted two years after the general civic polls. That is because the first election to the civic body was conducted in 1997 , two years after the polls to the civic bodies. This is the fifth election to the Mattannur Municipality. Apart from the LDF, UDF and NDA candidates, SDPI, Janapaksham and a rebel of Congress are also contesting. As all election conventions of the campaign are over, the parties are now concentrating on door-to-door campaigning. Out of the 35 wards, a tight competition is expected in at least 10 wards. It is considered that the votes grabbed by the BJP and SDPI will be crucial in the results. Mattannur is considered as a strong fortress of the CPM, however, the Congress has considerable influence in certain pockets, according to the last elections.
