Crackdown on UP abattoirs a hot issue in Kerala bypoll

Yogi Adityanath’s elevation to UP’S top post and his crackdown on slaughter houses are hotly debated in Malappuram.

The often heard question in the Muslim majority Lok Sabha constituency is who is capable enough to contain the saffron surge — the CPI(M) or the Muslim League. Both vouch for the unity of secular democratic forces but are arrayed against each other in a fiercely-contested fight.

In Malappuram, national issues take centrestage. “In some parts of the country, the government prepares menu for its citizens and days are not far when it will also insist how we should eat. Do you want to allow this?” asked Muslim League candidate PK Kunhalikutty, a former minister, to a big crowd in Kondotty. Turning their heads in unison, the crowd thundered a big no.

More than 10 days to go to polls (April 12), the political climate in Eranad region is as hot as its spicy food and scorching weather.

When the two main contestants are vociferously claiming for the secular space in the Muslim heartland (65% Muslims, 30% Hindus and 5% Christians), the BJP, a distant third-runner, is least perturbed. It says the ‘Modi magic’ will pay dividends here too. It says the match has been fixed with CPI(M)-LED LDF fielding a relatively weak candidate MB Faizal against the League strongman to ensure the latter’s victory. “My opponents are spreading canards. Being the youngest of the lot, am I looking so weak to you,” Faizal asked a crowd in Manjeri. True, DYFI (CPI(M) youth wing) district vicepresident was a surprise candidate. But the CPI(M) says its experiment with youngsters are paying it rich dividends.

In Malappuram, the bypoll was necessitated by the death of former minister E Ahamed who won the seat in 2014 . The League has fielded the seasoned politician to retain its fort (Manjeri LS seat later became Malappuram after constituency shake-up) held by Ahamed six times. “Our only aim is to increase the last margin,” said Abdul Hameed Master, campaign head of the League.

“By entering national politics, my priority will be to strengthen it,” said Kunhalikutty. Interestingly, the Social Democratic Party of India that pocketed 47,000 votes and Welfare Party of India that got 30,000 votes in the last election are not contesting this time. Both CPI(M) and Muslim League blame each other for a secret understanding with the two parties.

IN MALAPPURAM, THE BYPOLL WAS NECESSITATED BY THE DEATH OF EXMINISTER E AHAMED WHO WON THE SEAT IN 2014