Kozhikode: The voters of Kozhikode are in a dilemma. They have to choose from two equally popular candidates in the Lok Sabha elections - M.K. Ragha-van, sitting MP of the Congress, and A. Pradeep Kumar, MLA of the CPM. Raghavan will be fighting the polls for the third time with a slew of ac-hievements to his credit while Pradeep Kumar is facing him with a two-time record in the Assembly.
Raghavan maintains his office round-the- clock and has effectively tackled the day-to- day problems of the citizens. The Congress leadership did not have to think twice over fielding him for the third consecutive term. In 2014, he defeated A. Vijayaraghavan of CPM by 16,883 votes. In 2009, he had won with the lowest margin in the state – 838 votes-- against Muhammed Riaz of the CPM, present national president of DYFI.
Raghavan has initiated massive development projects in the constituency, including upgrading the Medical College Hospital and railway station to international standards.
The CPM had considered several leaders for Kozhikode constituency, but no sure names emerged and many backed out of fighting against Raghavan. But, the party fielded its popular face Pradeep Kumar hoping to put up a strong fight. “Pradeep Kumar has decades of service to his credit and is familiar to all in the constituency,” said Mini Jose of Puthiyara, Kozhikode. “When two good leaders fight each other, we will be in real trouble to select one of them,” she said.
