Kerala Assembly elections: UDF attempts to rewrite history in Thrikkaripur

Kasaragod: Thrikkaripur is undoubtedly a CPM fortress. Kayyur, which holds a glorious place in the history of the communist movement in the state, reflects the leftist tradition of the constituency. The Left had enjoyed a clear supremacy here in every election ever since the constituency came into being in 1977.

CPM district secretariat member M. Rajagopalan is taking on KPCC general secretary K.P. Kunhikannan here. But the delimitation exercise in 2011 has changed the constitution with the omission of left citadels, Karivellur-Peralam and Kankol-Aalappadambu grama panchayats. Along with that, the UDF pins hopes on the decline in the majority of P. Karunakaran MP in the parliamentary elections to 3,500 votes in this segment.

“The constituency is not unconquerable. In 2011, the LDF got only 8,765 votes' majority here. That could be overcome,” Mr Kunhikan-nan exudes confidence.

But UDF is now facing an unexpected obstacle in the form of Democratic Development Front (DDF), floated by breakaway Congress members in the UDF-dominated hilly East Eleri and West Eleri panchayats. The DDF had wrested control of the East Eleri panchayat in the last local body polls ending decades-long rule there.

If DDF chief James Pandamakkan comes up as a rebel candidate, it would split Congress votes and help LDF. On the other side, LDF is in no mood to take any chances considering the low majority of votes it got in parliament poll.

“We have nothing to worry. LDF will continue its winning streak this time also,” says K.P. Satheesh Chandran, CPM Kasaragod district secretary, a former legislator from here.

Thrikaripur had elected the late chief minister E. K. Nayanar in 1987 and 1991.