Defections across parties roil pre-poll scene in Kozhikode district

A wave of resignations and rebel candidacies across several wards in Kozhikode district has triggered widespread embarrassment among mainstream political parties and confusion among voters ahead of the upcoming local body elections.

Long-time party workers from multiple political fronts are on the list of persons who quit their parent organisations after disagreements over candidate selection, leading to fractured voter bases and challenges in campaign coordination.

Mediation attempts by senior leaders have yet to find results, as most rebels are now happy with the offers they have received from rival parties. Though major political parties describe it as a “temporary phenomenon”, defection by loyal party leaders and workers is reportedly derailing the pre-planned campaign strategies.

One of the striking developments is the recent quitting of around 25 members from the Communist Party of India (CPI), including former and current local leaders and their family members, following disputes over the final list of candidates for the Kavilumpara panchayat. Farmers’ organisation leaders are also on the list of dissidents.

In a similar setback for the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Ashraf Kottakkal, a councillor who was also the chairperson of the Payyoli municipality’s standing committee on development, resigned after internal disagreements over candidate selection. He subsequently joined the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). His move followed that of a Congress leader who also quit her position and aligned with the RJD over similar issues.

The pattern continued in Kozhikode city also, where an IUML councillor from the Moonnalinkal ward of the Corporation defected to the RJD. She is now contesting as an LDF-backed candidate, challenging the IUML’s decision to field a different nominee in her ward.

Another blow to the IUML fold was the resignation of U. Poker, a State committee member and a party functionary for four decades. He stepped down following disputes over the selection of a candidate in the Nallalam ward, where many supporters had advocated for his candidature. He later joined the CPI(M).

The Congress also faced turbulence when Azhiyur grama panchayat vice president Sasidharan Thottathil and member Mahija Thottathil joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), after being denied seats in the election. In Kozhikode city too, Alphonsa Mathew, a Congress councillor from the Nadakakvu ward, left the party to contest again on Aam Aadmi Party ticket.

There were huge conflicts over the selection of candidates in the BJP, too. The final lists of candidates were delayed following differences of opinion in major wards such as Chalappuram, Nadakkavu, Kottuli, and Marad.

With many voters remaining divided and the campaign team struggling to consolidate support, some voters feel that the turbulence reflects the deeper undercurrents in local political dynamics. A young voter from Kodiyathur panchayat says it’s high time the voters looked at the basic reasons behind the emergence of rebel candidates. Meanwhile, another woman voter from Azhiyur panchayat feels there is a political game between influential segments within the party and emerging leaders who challenge their authority.