Malappuram Constituency: The Reign Of IUML To Continue?

Malappuram, known as a stronghold of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and a bastion for the UDF. Malappuram has consistently provided a major vote share for IUML. The two Loksabha constituencies in Malappuram district, Malappuram and Ponnani, are the sitting seats of the UDF.

The sitting Malappuram MP, Dr. Abdussamad Samadani, and the three-term MP from Ponnani, ET Muhammed Basheer, have swapped seats for the forthcoming polls; Basheer is the candidate from Malappuram, and Samadani is fielding from Ponnani. Malappuram consists of seven constituencies, and all the constituencies are under the dominion of IUML. By fielding IUML candidates, the UDF strategically aims to maintain a stronghold in both constituencies.

Besides ET Muhammed Basheer, CPI (M) candidate V Vaseef, and BJP nominee Dr. Abdussalam, former vice chancellor of the University of Calicut, are the other candidates. The Muslim vote bank, constituting 70.25% of the total population, is very crucial. All the parties, including the BJP, intend to consolidate these major Muslim votes. However, the constituency has not given any hope for the BJP so far.

E Ahmad was the MP from Malappuram in 2009 and 2014. After the demise of E Ahmad in 2017, PK Kunhalikutty was elected in the by-election, and he retained the seat in the 2019 election as well. Abdussamad Samadani has been elected in the 2021 by-election after PK Kunhalikutty vacated the seat to contest the Assembly election.

Since the past few elections, CPIM has begun to introduce youth candidates to the poll fray. In the 2019 and 2021 elections, CPIM introduced VP Sanu as their nominee. MB Faizal and PK Sainaba were the candidates of the LDF in the 2009 and 2017 by-elections, respectively.

The present candidate, V Vaseef, is the state president of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). V Vaseef holds a distinct track record in politics. He entered mainstream politics through campus politics. He was the former chairman of the Calicut University Union. Since he has grown up in local politics, it will be an advantage for him to campaign and allure the locals with his experience.

On the other hand, ET Muhammed Basheer is contesting from Malappuram for the first time. As he is a native of Malappuram, it gives him favourable advantage, as all the legislative assemblies are under the IUML. ET Muhammed Basheer has been in mainstream politics for a long time, and he served as the educational minister of Kerala. He has been at the forefront of minority issues. His political experiences as the Member of Parliament from Ponnani for the last three terms and his diplomacy may gain a number of ballots to his box, the party strongly believes.

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