Kozhikode Lok Sabha Constituency: A Dual Between Two Veterans

Kozhikode, one of the prominent general seats from Kerala, is set to witness a dual war. Kozhikode constituency consists of 7 legislative assemblies. Majority of the legislative assemblies are under the strong hold of LDF, six of the assemblies are under CPIM-led LDF and Congress-led UDF possesses only one. 39.4 % of the Muslim populace is very crucial in this constituency in Kerala’s Malabar region. At the same time, the only SC reserved assembly, Balussery, is crucial as well. Despite Balussery has LDF rule, Congress has secured it for the past two elections.

Elathur, Beypore and Kunnamangalam, the three assemblies were in favour of LDF in 2009 and 2014 elections. Congress won all the seven assemblies in 2019 election wave. LDF has always chose their strong candidates in each election. PM Riyas, current minister of Public Works, A Vijayaraghavan and A Pradeep Kumar, an MLA from Kozhikode North were their candidates respectively in 2009, 2014 and 2019. Congress has succeeded in developing their vote share and majority in all the elections.

At the forefront of this election, the two well experienced candidates are competing. Sitting MP MK Raghavan of Indian National Congress (INC) and Elamaram Kareem of Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM), current Rajya Sabha member and former industries minister in 2006 -11 period . BJP also nominated their candidate, MT Ramesh the state general secretary of the party.

The sitting MP, MK Raghavan, from the banner of Congress at his fourth attempt faces a hard competition from Kareem. With fielding Kareem, CPM might be intending to consolidate the substantial Muslim votes, which constitutes 39.4% of the electorate.

The legislative assemblies of Kozhikode have a stronghold for LDF, out of seven, only Koduvally is under UDF. Koduvally consistently delivers significant votes for UDF. It serves as a bastion for Indian Union Muslim League for several years.

The electoral history of Kozhikode from 2009 reveals the alternating position of assemblies in each Lok Sabha election. In 2009, PM Riyas secured the four legislative assemblies, despite this, Raghavan ascended to the victory by a notable rise in the vote share. In 2014, with four assemblies favouring Congress, Raghavan emerged victorious against the CPM nominee Vijayaraghavan. In 2019, Congress swept all the seven assemblies against Pradeep Kumar.

CPM’s strategy to consolidate the majority Muslim votes by nominating Elamaram Kareem is evident from the election campaigns. However, the track record of MK Raghavan as MP with the railway projects, initiatives for AIIMS and other works will be an obstacle for Kareen to deny Raghavan a fourth win in Kozhikode.

The LDF vs UDF competition in Kozhikode provides no hope for BJP, according to observers.

(This story is part of a Timeline. internship project.)