PALAKKAD: With Kanthapuram AP Aboobaker Musliyar of the AP faction of Sunni Muslim clerics and scholars calling for the defeat of the sitting MLA N. Shamsudheen of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) at Mannarkkad, the segment is witnessing a keen contest in which CPI district secretary K P Suresh Raj has been pitted against the MLA.
The LDF is confident of a victory in the segment which is situated near the Malappuram border where nearly half the voters belong to the Muslim community. The segment has mostly stood by both the LDF and UDF, according to the trends in the Assembly elections at the state level.
The IUML and its candidate N Shamsudheen are of the opinion that the stand taken by Kanthapuram has united the UDF camp. The EK faction among Sunni clerics would be putting in all efforts to prove Kanthapuram from the rival faction wrong.
Kanthapuram had taken this stand against the MLA alleging that he helped the culprits who had allegedly murdered two members of the AP faction in 2013.
Even though Mr N Shamsudheen had a lead of more than 8,000 votes while winning in the 2011 Assembly polls, the lead came considerably down to 288 in the segment during the Lok Sabha polls and the LDF claims that in the local body polls they have got a lead of more than 1000 votes in the segment.
The Attapadi tribal region is in the segment and the sitting IUML MLA claims that he has done several developmental activities in improving the basic amenities in the tribal belt and in the constituency. But his opponents are of the opinion that other than road development activities, the MLA has done nothing . The BJP which is not a force to reckon with in the segment has fielded Kesavadas as its candidate.
