Perception fight in Kozhikode for voter’s mindshare

KOZHIKODE: It is a neck-and-neck race between sitting MP M.K. Raghavan of the UDF and A. Pradeep Kumar, MLA, of the LDF in Kozhikode which was initially considered as a safe bet for the UDF. Though a pro-LDF constituency, Mr Raghavan had won it twice due to his good image.

However, the candidature of the popular Pradeep Kumar and the ‘spycam exposure’ of Mr Raghavan have made things difficult for the UDF. It is understood that the state police chief has asked for legal opinion on the allegation to see if the case against the MP stands legal scrutiny. An adverse opinion could find him in a slippery wicket.

The LDF has been waging a tough campaign with the well-oiled CPM machinery. Mr Raghavan told DC that even those who circulated the allegations on social networking sites have admitted that there was no evidence against him. “It was a cooked up story to malign my image,” he said and added that during the last two terms, five lakh people had contacted his office for various issues. “None of them will believe the allegations of corruption against me,” he said.

Both camps are holding corner programmes and contacting voters. The chief achievements of Mr Rahgavan as MP and Mr Pradeep Kumar as MLA are being highlighted. The UDF points to the upgrading of the Kozhikode railway station to international standards and the huge funds sanctioned for the expansion of Kozhikode medical college as major achievements of Mr Raghavan while the LDF focuses on the educational progress achieved by upgrading government schools to high standards by Mr Pradeep Kumar in his constituency.  The Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Nadakkavu, has been hailed as a model to be followed.

BJP candidate K.P. Prakash Babu, who was released from jail recently in a case of alleged attack on a woman at Sabarimala, is also active in the constituency highlighting the Modi regime’s achievements and the suppression of Sabarimala devotees.

In 2014, Mr Raghavan had defeated Mr A. Vijayaraghavan of CPM by 16,883 votes.  Mr Raghavan won 3,97,615 votes  and Mr Vijayaraghavan 3,80,732. BJP leader C.K. Padmanabhan secured 1,15,760 votes.  In 2009, Mr Raghavan, then a new face, won the seat with the lowest margin in the state – 838 votes. He bagged 3,42,309 votes against 3,41,471 of Mr Muhammed Riaz, CPM, present national president of DYFI.

The constituency has a total electorate of 12,64,844, including 6,51,560 females, 6,13,276 males and eight third genders.