WAYANAD: Wayanad, the tiny district, has only three constituencies, Kalpetta, Sulthan Bathery and Mananthavadi. Known as a Congress citadel, all the three constituencies are represented by UDF MLAs, M.V. Shreyams Kumar (Kalpetta), I.C. Balakrishnan (Sulthan Bathery) and minister P.K. Jayalakshmi (Mananthavadi).
Mananthavadi and Sulthan Bathery are reserved for scheduled tribes. Against tradition, in the election to the local administrative bodies last year, the UDF won only seven village panchayats whereas LDF won 16.
But among the four block panchayats, the UDF won three and the LDF one (Sulthan Bathery). In the three municipalities, the UDF won Kalpetta whereas the LDF won two-- Mananthavadi and Sulthan Bathery. However, the UDF ensured its supremacy in the district panchayat.
The contest in two constituencies, Kalpetta and Mananthavadi, would grab state-level attention. Though the Congress leadership is yet to announce the candidature of minister Jayalakshmi, the sitting MLA of Mananthavadi, there are no other names suggested so far by the DCC.
The CPM has decided to field Tirunelli panchayat president O.K. Kelu against Mr Jayalaskshmi. Hailing from the same Kurichia warrior community, Mr Kelu is a relative of Ms Jayalakshmi.
Sources told DC that both the camps have started silent campaigns, house visits and family meets. DCC president K.L. Poulose said that most probably the sitting MLAs of Mananthavadi and Sulthan Bathery would continue.
In Kalpetta, the CPM has cleared the name of its district secretary C.K. Saseendran. He would face Mr Shreyams Kumar, who is on his third innings. With his decade-long experience as legislative member, he is a familiar face in the constituency.
An avid traveller, Mr Shreyams has been instrumental in bringing in many novel concepts in his constituency. But political observers feel that despite his efforts to upgrade the constituency into a smarter one, it would be tough for him to battle it out against a simple, popular and unblemished character like Mr Saseendran. Meanwhile it is said that Mr Shreyams may opt out or go in search of greener pastures. But he denied it.
In Sulthan Bathery, the LDF is struggling to find a candidate against sitting MLA Balakrishnan. There is an attempt to bring former deputy director of education N.I. Thangamani into the fray. But it is yet to be finalized. “I am waiting for the final nod from the top”, said Mr Balakrishnan. “I hope the party would give me a second chance,” he added.
