Kannur: If the CPM’s version is to be believed, the Congress in Anthoor municipality has suddenly transformed into a ruthless force capable of intimidating a retired Armyman, its own party office-bearer, and even a plywood-factory worker into seconding its candidates. That was the familiar spectacle that unfolded in Kannur’s Anthoor municipality, best known for muscling out rivals long before the votes were cast. It also happens to be the home turf of CPM state secretary M V Govindan.

In 2020, the LDF won all 28 divisions, six of them unopposed. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) could not field candidates in another three divisions. In CPM’s lingo, the municipal town is a village - ‘a party gramam’, where there is no space for alternative political ideology.

On Saturday, November 22, the day fixed for scrutiny of nomination papers, the pressure tactics resurfaced in Anchampeedika, Division No. 26, reserved for Scheduled Caste women. Congress candidate Livya K was allegedly confined at home, threatened, and made to sign a paper stating she wished to withdraw her nomination, said the party.

The returning officer deferred action, saying all withdrawal petitions would be taken up on Monday, the last day.
 Anthoor Congress Mandalam president Prajosh Poyyil was sure how this would play out. “They will threaten and bring Livya to the municipality office on Monday.” Multiple calls to Livya went unanswered.

Scare tactics at scrutiny
Inside the municipal office, more theatre unfolded. The CPM paraded people who had seconded five UDF candidates, claiming they had been tricked or intimidated into signing the papers. “They hunted down the people who seconded our candidates,” said Poyyil.

People who second the candidates are far more vulnerable in a ‘party grāmam’. Unlike candidates, who can come from anywhere in the municipality, seconders must be residents of the specific division, making them sitting ducks in ‘party gramam’.

At Kolmotta (Division No. 10), Congress filed nomination papers for two candidates - T N Unnikrishnan and Adamkutty K P. They were seconded by Congress supporters Odayanan, a welfare pensioner, and his son Anish Kumar. The CPM claimed the father-son duo were forced to sign the papers.

At Kodallur (Division No. 13), IUML candidate Shamima was seconded by Sreedharan (65), a retired Armyman. The CPM alleged he, too, was threatened.

At Thaliyil (Division No. 18), Congress candidate Vimal Manoj K was seconded by Pramod, a plywood-factory worker. Pramod, Prajosh Poyyil said, did not belong to any party and supported the Congress candidate as a protest because the CPM failed to resolve his long-standing road issue.

At Thalivayal (Division No. 20): IUML’s Jamsheera was seconded by Raghunath Thaliyil, state general secretary of Pravasi Congress, the Congress’s frontal organisation for expatriates. The CPM claimed he backed the candidate under duress.

Raghunath could not be brought before the returning officer for scrutiny. He switched off his phone, said the Congress Mandalam president. He did not respond to calls from Onmanorama in the evening.

The CPM insists these seconders “were not willing” to support the UDF candidates.
After long hours of hearing, the returning officer pushed the decision on the five Congress candidates to Monday. Poyyil said the returning officer “did not explain why.”

Winning unopposed in a democracy
The CPM takes pride in its record of uncontested victories in Anthoor, where all 28 divisions are with the LDF.

As in 2020, the UDF could not field a candidate in Morazha, the home division of the CPM state secretary.
“Last time, we could not field candidates in six divisions, including Morazha, because those backing our candidates were threatened. Then they forced three more of our candidates to withdraw,” said Poyyil.

The nine divisions where the UDF could not contest in 2020 were Kanool, Anthoor, Kolmotta, Morazha, Nanicheri, Ozhakrom, CH Nagar, Kodamberi and Kovval. This time, the UDF brought it down to two -- Morazha and Podikundu.

But Podikundu carries its own scars. In 2020, Congress worker Sugunan backed the party’s candidate A Sivadasan, who polled 68 votes against CPM winner Prakash Koyileriyan’s 529. On polling day, Sugunan was allegedly slapped by CPM workers when he went to vote. Now recovering from heart surgery, he told the party that he could not endure another ordeal.

Different treatment for BJP?
According to Poyyil, the CPM has reserved its threats solely for Congress backers. Notably, the BJP fielded seven candidates in Anthoor, and yet, “when the CPM threatened one of our candidates and raised objections to five others, it did not oppose even one BJP candidate,” he said. “That says something.”

In Anthoor, the CPM enjoys a brutal monopoly -- one built, Poyyil said, on fear, pressure and the calculated erasure of opposition. In 2020, the UDF still secured 2,402 votes, nearly 15% of the 16,461 votes polled -- despite being unable to field candidates in nine wards.
Going by the CPM’s record in Anthoor, nomination papers have long doubled as certificates of victory for its candidates.