Koduvally town in Kozhikode district has been in the news in the past due to the incredibly high number of jewelery shops lining its streets and their alleged link to gold smuggling. However, during assembly and local body elections, the seat is often in the news for the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M))’s unique experiment of fielding a large number of independent candidates, who are quite often rebels from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
In the 2020 local body elections, the United Democratic Front (UDF) won 21 seats in the 36-member council and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) won six. In this IUML stronghold, 16 of the 21 UDF members were from the League and five from the Congress. Four seats were won by the National Secular Conference, an organization run by LDF Kunnamangalam MLA PTA Raheem, one by the Welfare Party of India (WPI) and the rest by the Independents.
In the 2015 council, the UDF and its Independents had 19 seats, the LDF 16 and there was an independent member.
The number of departments has now increased to 37.
The election contest here in 2020 also attracted attention with the candidature of Karat Faisal, who was earlier questioned in connection with the Calicut International Airport gold smuggling case and also the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport gold smuggling case. Mr. Faisal won from Parambathukavu ward in 2015. Although he was initially declared as an LDF-backed independent candidate from Choondapuram, the front asked Mr. Faisal to step down after he was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in the case of smuggling gold from diplomatic baggage. CPI(M) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s journey in a luxury car owned by Mr Faisal in 2017 during the ‘Jana Jagratha Yatra’ also became a controversy. Then Mr. Faisal decided to contest without LDF support from Choondapuram and won the seat. The LDF suffered a major embarrassment when OP Rasheed, the INL candidate it supported against Mr. Faisal, drew a blank. The Choondapuram branch of the CPI(M) was disbanded after the poll results were announced.
With Mr. Faisal again fielded by the LDF in the upcoming elections, this time from South Koduvally ward, the CPI(M) seems to be continuing its experiment with ‘independents’. At least 12 of the candidates announced by the LDF are independent. Because many candidates are either from INL or supported by this party. The CPI(M) is contesting in three constituencies. The UDF is contesting in 35 constituencies. WPI announced two candidates. In the 2020 elections here, the UDF had a tie with the WPI.
The secretary moved
Meanwhile, the local government department recently removed municipal secretary VS Manoj following complaints of errors in the electoral roll and his prolonged absence on the orders of the State Election Commission. Anil Kumar Nochayyil, who replaced him, was also removed from his post on the basis of a stay order issued by the State Administrative Court on his appointment.
Published – 24 Nov 2025 08:18 IST
