Suresh Babu frontrunner for UDF
KPCC secretary Jayanth also among probables as mayoral candidate
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-10-06 07:14 GMT
KOZHIKODE: The UDF is planning to put up KPCC general secretary Adv P.M. Suresh Babu as the mayoral candidate for the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation civic polls scheduled to be held on November 2.
Though KPCC secretary K. Jayanth’s name has also been sounded as a probable candidate, the Congress leadership is giving preference to Suresh Babu.
The IUML leadership is also supporting Suresh Babu’s name for the mayor's post. However it is learnt that both leaders have expressed their unwillingness as they are looking for the Kozhikode North seat for the next assembly elections. The DCC has intimated the names for mayor posts to the state leadership.
However, many of the UDF leaders are facing a dilemma over seats as sitting seats of many leaders including deputy Opposition leader K. Muhammadali are reserved for women this time.
Though the Muslim League is looking for a mutual exchange policy for the seats, the Congress has not yet responded positively to the idea. “We are not ready to give any sitting seats of the Congress to the League. They have enough seats among themselves to exchange,” said a Congress councillor.
Meanwhile, the UDF leadership in the district has decided to maintain the status quo in seat sharing. Though a clear picture of the election will only be available by the end of this week, the Muslim League has already started campaigning in its strongholds.
The party has also started groundwork well in advance compared to other parties. In the last election, the League performed well winning 11 out of 14 seats they had contested.