LDF fancies chances in Ponnani as IUML margins dip steadily

LDF fancies chances in Ponnani as IUML margins dip steadily
If the preliminary discussions in the LDF are any indication, Niyas Pulikkalakath is a strong probable for the Ponnani seat.

Malappuram: Like Malappuram, Ponnani Lok Sabha constituency in the same district is also a sure seat of the United Democratic Front (UDF) with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) winning continuously from 1977 onward. While their national leaders like GM Banatwala and Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait contested till 1999, the senior leaders from Kerala, like E Ahamed and ET Mohammed Basheer only recently got a chance to represent the constituency.

Since the IUML's demand for a third seat is likely to fall on deaf ears in the Front, their main agenda for this Lok Sabha election will be to increase the majority and stay stronger for the next Assembly election. However, things are not so safe for their rival Left Democratic Front (LDF) and they are set to try new combination in the polls, according to party sources.

LDF fancies chances in Ponnani as IUML margins dip steadily
GM Banatwala

If the preliminary discussions in the LDF are any indication, Niyas Pulikkalakath is a strong probable for the seat and could be fielded as an independent candidate of the CPI. He is the chairman of Kerala SIDCO (Small Industries Corporation and Kerala Employment Promotion Corporation).

LDF fancies chances in Ponnani as IUML margins dip steadily
Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait

Another prominent leader from the area, CPI's state executive member PP Suneer, has already started field work in Wayanad constituency and Niyas' confirmation is yet to come. Suneer, also from Ponnani, had shifted to nearby Changaramkulam, and his main area of activity is Wayanad.

LDF fancies chances in Ponnani as IUML margins dip steadily
CPI's state executive member PP Suneer.

When E Ahamed represented Ponnani for the first time in the Parliament, Suneer was the main opponent. Ahamed garnered 3,54,051 votes against Suneer's 2,51,293 in 2004 and secured a margin of 102,758. In the 2009 election, ET Mohammed Basheer, who is popularly known as ET, defeated LDF's independent candidate Hussain Randathani with a margin of 82,684 votes. ET gained 3,85,801 votes, whereas his main opponent could get only 3,03,117 votes.

LDF fancies chances in Ponnani as IUML margins dip steadily
E Ahamed

ET retained the constituency in 2014, with a lower majority of 25,410, when he defeated V Abdurahman, again an independent candidate from the LDF (378,503 against 353,093).

LDF fancies chances in Ponnani as IUML margins dip steadily
ET Mohammed Basheer

This erosion in the majority of the IUML is prompting the LDF to try a stronger candidate in Ponnani, which consists of Assembly constituencies Tirurangadi, Tanur, Tirur, Kottakkal, Thavanur, Ponnani and Thrithala.

Niyas presented a strong fight in Tirurangadi in the last Assembly election against IUML's former minister PK Abdu Rabb. Rabb won with a narrow margin of 6,043 votes. Rabb scored 62,927 against 56,884.

LDF fancies chances in Ponnani as IUML margins dip steadily
PK Abdu Rabb

However, IUML sources say that the negative factors inside the party against Rabb brought his majority down and not Niyas' popularity. But the LDF's calculation is to put a strong candidate, who can garner maximum votes from Tirurangadi, that usually favours the UDF.

Earlier, the state leadership had a plan to bring PK Kunhalikkutty back to Assembly and try ET in the Malappuram seat instead. In that case, scholar and orator, MP Abdussamad Samadani is the first choice to represent Ponnani. Somehow, the Assembly plans of Kunhalikkutty is not alive any more in the discussions and ET is almost confirmed to try his luck again in Ponnani.

LDF fancies chances in Ponnani as IUML margins dip steadily
PK Kunhalikkutty

In ET's favour is his fierce opposition to the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill (triple talaq bill) last year. ET voted against the Bill, when Kunhalikkutty could not attend the crucial Lok Sabha session. His active involvement in the Parliament as well as minority issues are the winning cards for the IUML this time even as the Left fancies its chances in the former's bastion.

LDF fancies chances in Ponnani as IUML margins dip steadily
MP Abdussamad Samadani
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