Malappuram by-election: Curtains down on poll campaign
The parties took out rallies in different places to conclude their public campaigns.
MALAPPURAM: The month-long heated electioneering for the by-election to the Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency came to a close with shows of strength by the rivals in the town on Monday. Though an all- party meeting called by the police on Sunday had decided to avoid the grand finale, thousands of workers of Muslim League, Congress, CPM and BJP thronged Kunnummal, the heart of the town. The parties took out rallies in different places to conclude their public campaigns.
While the UDF wanted to increase the majority secured by E. Ahmed in the 2014 general elections, which was the highest in the state, the LDF tried for a surprise win. According to state BJP president Kummanam Rajashekharan, the party was confident of a win. The top leaders who campaigned included Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, former chief ministers V.S. Achuthanandan, Oommen Chandy and A.K. Antony, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC acting president M.M. Hasan.
The UDF also got the backing of Kerala Congress (M) chairman K.M. Mani who had left the front a few months ago. The LDF attacked the communal issues allegedly raked up by the RSS and the BJP throughout the country. The BJP also unleashed an intense campaign against the LDF and the UDF.