By TCN Staff Reporter,
Madayi [Kannur]: The result of local body by-elctions in Kerala has sent an obvious warning to major political parties of the state. Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) that contested the by-elections at Vadikkalkadavu in Madayi have emerged as potent force, although they lost the election.
The local body by-elections to 30 wards in Kerala were held on October 10.
SDPI candidate A. Muneer, who contested the by-elections at Madayi 10th ward of the Kannur district, finished third. He was successful in winning 219 votes out of the total 768 votes casted.
A. Muneer (white shirt in the middle) along with SDPI workers thanking the voters
Sajeendran of Congress and Muslim league backed United Democratic Front [UDF] coalition procured 285 votes to win the elections. I.S. Rajan of CPI (M) led Left Democratic Front [LDF] coalition finished second with 262 votes.
Muneer had to overcome a strong campaign led by IUML, who even accused them of involvement in the involved in the murder of Abdul Shukoor [the IUML worker brutally killed by the CPIM party court in Kannur].
The significant number of votes in favour of the SDPI candidate is seen as a threat by other political groupings.
SDPI, the latest significant political outfit from Kerala had a dramatic setting for taking its place on the political stage earlier in its debut polls in the local body elections when Prof Anas Anethan – accused and imprisoned in the infamous hand chopping incident of Prof TJ Joseph [for abusing Prophet Muhammed through a question paper prepared] contested the local body polls from Viyur central jail and won with a huge majority to the Vazhakulam block Panchayath.
It was in the very same local body elections SDPI candidates won 12 seats, across the state and finished second in another dozen, losing for as few as 25 votes or less.
SDPI is challenging the two political groupings singlehandedly.
Political observers opine that a section of Muslims, who feel victimised, see SDPI -the political front of the Popular Front of India [PFI] as a potent political alternative.