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Thursday, Apr 27, 2006

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National

League's grip slipping?

The LDF is upbeat because of the perceived disenchantment with the IUML

Anita Joshua
Malappuram

This is Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) territory, but the grip may be loosening.

Whether this shows up in the elections to the 12 Assembly segments in this Muslim majority district on Saturday is still unclear. For, old habits die hard, and Malappuram has stood by the League all these years.

The best the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has done in Assembly elections here is two seats. Even in the elections it swept, the people of Malappuram remained loyal to the IUML. But that may be changing; in Tirur where Education Minister E. T. Mohammad Basheer enjoys a good equation with his voters, people openly speculate about a drop in his vote share.

Ask why and the answer is disenchantment with the United Democratic Front in general and the IUML in particular. "The IUML has moved away from its core principles," and has turned into a moneymaking organisation, says Yusuf, a shopkeeper in Tirur town.

Still, Yusuf and Abdulla (who runs a tea-stall at the small wharf in Padinjarakara) can't think of voting otherwise.

In Kuttipuram, where IUML State general secretary P. K. Kunhalikutty who had to step down as Industries Minister for his alleged involvement in the Kozhikode ice-cream parlour sex scandal, is standing, League supporters acknowledge the going will be tough.

Youth leader

Standing against him is IUML youth leader K. T. Jaleel, who was thrown out of the party for questioning where funds collected for the Gujarat riot and tsunami victims went.

Mr. Jaleel is backed by the LDF, and it appears a contest is on the cards going by the local betting.

The LDF sees an outside chance of victory here and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has sent in two heavyweights — V. S. Achuthanandan and Brinda Karat — to campaign for him.

In Mankada, the LDF is backing film producer Manjalamkuzhi Ali for a second term against IUML minister M. K. Muneer. Shunted out of Malappuram Assembly segment, Mr. Muneer faces an uphill task here given the popularity of MacAli (as Mr. Ali is known in film circles). Adding to Mr. Muneer's woes are his problems with Mr. Kunhalikutty.

The CPI(M), scenting another win here, got Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan to campaign for him. While the CPI(M) dwells on larger issues and the scandals surrounding the League members, Mr. Ali is focused; speaking only of "vellum, velichum, vazhi" (water, electricity and roads).

Having switched sides, the People's Democratic Party of Abdul Naseer Maudany and the Jamaat-e-Islami, too, are doing their bit for the LDF.

All this may be good news for the LDF, but there is a fear that a positive build-up in its favour may be its undoing. For it could end up consolidating the IUML vote bank and get the League's traditional voters out in force on April 29, the day of polling here.

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