Advantage League despite civic poll setback

Malappuram helped UDF carve a thin majority to form the government in 2011. The Front had won 14 of the 16 seats and it is confident of retaining them this time.

LDF , meanwhile, is trying to win at least five seats.

The UDF magic failed during the ocal body polls as the unrest within he Front, coupled with LDF's anti ascist campaign­ eyeing minority votes­eroded its traditional vote share. The Janakeeya Vikasana Munnani, formed jointly by LDF and Congress, wrested power in Kondotty and Parappanangadi municipalities. The district also witnessed direct fight between the Muslim League and Congress in 13 grama panchayats.

Though the district leadership of Congress and IUML had held several rounds of talks ahead of assembly poll to iron out the differences, issues still remain at the grassroots. Though UDF has an upper hand in over 10 constituencies, Nilambur, Mankada, Perinthalmanna, Tanur and Ponnani will witness a close contest.

Of the 16 seats, IUML is contesting in 12 and it has an edge in Vengara, Tirurangadi, Eranad, Manjeri, Malappuram, Kondotty, Kottakkal and Tirur constituencies.

Ministers P K Kunhalikutty and P K Abdu Rabb are contesting from Vengara and Tirurangadi, respectively. P Ubaidulla is seeking yet another term from Malappuram. Minister A P Anilkumar is contesting in Wandoor.

BJP , which fielded candidates from minority communities in two constituencies, can spoil the UDF party in some segments. It had won 19 seats in different grama panchayats in the civic polls. The Welfare Party of India and SDPI which have strong presence in certain pockets ­ will influence the results in some seats.

Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath in Nilambur is facing a stiff challenge from CPM-backed independent, P V Anwar, who was second in the neighbouring Eranad in 2011.But Shoukath, the former chairman of Nilambur municipality is confident that the development projects will help him win.

BDJS has fielded Girish Mekkat, keeping in mind the Ezhava presence in the constituency . In 2011, Aryadan Muhammed had won the Nilambur seat by a margin of 5,598 votes. The votes of tribesmen and Christians will be crucial here.

Tanur, too, will see an spirited contest between LDF's V Abdurahman and IUML's Abdurahman Randathani. In 2011, Randathani had defeated CPM's E Jayan by 9,433 votes. The contest between LDF candidate T Rasheed Ali and A Ahammed Kabeer of IUML in Mankada will turn interesting .

Perinthalmanna may see a tight fight as CPM has fielded former MLA V Sasikumar against minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali. In Ponnani ­ the only seat won by CPM last time ­ P Sreeramakrishnan will take on P T Ajay Mohan of the Congress. Here the coastal votes will decide the winner.