Thiruvananthapuram, 04 May (H.S.):The United Democratic Front (UDF) appears to be reaping rich dividends from its strategic decision to field and support dissidents from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) in the ongoing Kerala Assembly election vote count. Early trends indicate that the experiment of backing disgruntled former CPM leaders has translated into significant leads across multiple constituencies.
Among the most prominent of these is former minister G. Sudhakaran, who is contesting from Ambalappuzha with UDF support. He has taken a commanding lead of over 5,900 votes against the CPM’s H. Salam, marking a major upset in a constituency traditionally influenced by the Left.
The impact of rebellion is being felt most sharply in Kannur, long regarded as a CPM bastion. Two senior leaders who broke ranks with the party are currently leading, dealing a symbolic blow to the CPM’s organisational stronghold.
In Taliparamba, former CPM district secretariat member T.K. Govindan, who contested as a rebel candidate with UDF backing, has surged ahead with a margin of 6,363 votes by the end of the fifth round of counting. Govindan had parted ways with the party after protesting the candidature of P.K. Shyamala, wife of CPM state secretary M.V. Govindan.
A similar trend is visible in Payyannur, where former CPM district committee member V. Kunjikrishnan has established a lead of 3,884 votes. His exit from the party followed allegations related to the Dhanaraj martyr fund scam, which he had raised against sitting MLA T.I. Madhusoodanan, who is once again the CPM candidate in the constituency.
In Ottapalam in Palakkad district, former CPM leader and ex-MLA P.K. Sasi, fielded by the UDF, is locked in a tight contest with CPM candidate K. Premkumar. Sasi has intermittently taken the lead, indicating a highly competitive race.
Meanwhile, in Malampuzha, a constituency once represented by former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, UDF-backed candidate A. Suresh, a former private secretary to Achuthanandan, is trailing. The CPM’s sitting MLA A. Prabhakaran is currently in the lead.
As counting progresses, the UDF’s calculated gamble to harness internal dissent within the CPM appears to be reshaping the electoral dynamics in several key constituencies across Kerala.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
