Kerala Assembly elections: It's a glam fight in Azhikode

Kannur: Azhikode is set to witness a prestige fight between IUML’s firebrand leader and youth face K.M. Shaji and CPM independent M.V. Nikesh Kumar, TV journalist and son of the late CPM leader M.V. Raghavan. Mr Shaji had defeated  CPM strongman M. Prakashan Master  for a mere 493 votes  in 2011 elections. The CPM hopes to erase this margin in Azhikode, which was once its  most trusted constituency in Kannur.  “Just 493 votes is his margin and we can easily overcome it,” said a CPM leader.

Mr  Shaji’s victory was a shocker to the CPM which came as a result of delimitation of constituencies. Earlier  in 1987,  its former comrade M.V. Raghavan had won from here for 1,389 votes with the support of the UDF. Except for these two instances and till 2006, Azhikode was a stronghold of the CPM since its creation in 1977.  CPM district secretary Chadayan Govindan represented the constituency for the first time  winning by a margin of 5,936 votes.

Mr Shaji has become a popular face among the people and on the social media with his opinions and  oratory skills. He has implemented many developmental projects in the constituency and also made his presence felt in the Assembly with strong interventions. The UDF believes that the 493-vote margin can be bettered in the coming polls just with Mr Shaji’s aura.

The civic polls held last year have boosted the CPM morale.  It secured some  8,000 votes more than the UDF. The UDF was behind LDF by 3,594 votes in Azhikode panchayat alone. Also, there are more than 10,000 new voters.  

Congress rebel councillor in Kannur corporation, P.K. Ragesh, is another headache for the UDF. Mr Ragesh has good base in Pallikkunnu panchayat and can influence the result to some extent.