IUML faces threat to Malappuram fortress
MALAPPURAM: For all political parties in the state next week’s local body elections will serve a curtain raiser and a pointer to the outcome of legislative Assembly polls due in May 2021, except for Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second biggest partner of the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) led by Congress.
It is a batle for survival for the party which used to decide which front comes to power in Kerala in the past.
Apart from the historical hatred between Congress and Muslim League, the rebel menace is posing a great threat to party’s chances of winning many seats. Independent candidates with backing of Let Democratic Front (LDF) in party strongholds is likely to mar the chances of party nominees as local body elections are won or lost with slender margins. Several tactics are being employed by the rival fronts including unofficial alliances outside the front to garner votes.
Malappuram has the highest population, highest voters and highest number of local bodies.
In 2000 elections, it was suspected that the Muslim League had a tacit understanding with the CPIM, while in 2015 the Congress gave a helping hand to the Marxists in at least 24 places.
In the last elections, the LDF was successful in sending shockwaves through IUML as the former ended up in securing the second place in many wards in the district.
The LDF secured the second place in Tanur municipality.
The bickering in UDF is more or less kept in the background and barring three, the front is contesting as a united front in all other panchayats in the district.
The LDF is expecting to present beter performance than in the past with the entry of Kerala Congress ( M) into its fold, according to reports.
The tacit alliance with Welfare Party, the political wing of Jama’ate Islami, is being used by LDF against UDF as an instance of compromising with communal oufits.
The tie-up with the Welfare Party is a topic of discussion in the polls.
UDF is facing rebel problems in district panchayat divisions also.