KANNUR: Ever wondered why Kannur has been called as a red citadel despite going by the number of MLAs, the CPM is just one seat ahead of the UDF?
It is not just because that Communist Party’s state unit was born in this district or the two CPM politburo members including state secretary and three central committee members are from here.
It is the strong party votes which gave it the tagline. Over 50 percent of the total populace who had gone to the polling booths in the district voted in favour of LDF candidates in 2011 despite anti-incumbency factor.
Out of the 11 constituencies in the district, the CPM won six (Thalassery, Mattannur, Dharmadam, Taliparamba, Kalliasseri and Payyanur) and the UDF managed to win in five (Azhikode, Irikkur, Kuthuparamba, Peravoor and Kannur). However, if the total polled percentage taken, the LDF won just over 50 percent of the total polled votes - 7,25,381 - and UDF cornered just 39.46 percent - 5, 65, 189. Others went away with nearly 10 percent or 1, 41, 435 votes.
When analysing the margin of victory, the CPM (the only party in LDF which won seats in Kannur) retained all six of them by a margin of over 25,000 votes except Dharmadam where they won by 15, 162 votes.
In case of UDF, Irikkur is the only constituency they managed to cross a victory margin of 10,000 votes. In all other fours constituencies, they won by less than 7,000 votes. Notable is Azhikode, which they captured by just 493 votes.
In 2016 elections too, the UDF hopes to retain their seats as there is no evident undercurrents happening. However, they may not give much thought to increase their voting share.
