Candidates filling forms to download their nominations at Kozhikode Corporation office on November 24, last day for download. | Photo credit: K. Ragesh
Despite endless behind-the-scenes negotiations, political parties have failed to weed out the rebels posing a threat to official candidates in various local bodies in Kozhikode district.
Attempts to quell the rebel threat and pacify dissident candidates to back down ended at sundown on Monday (Nov 24), the last day to withdraw nominations. Although several candidates, rebels and officials have occasionally withdrawn their nominations, all is not well.
The United Democratic Front (UDF) faces the greatest threat from the rebels. Official Congress candidates in several constituencies in Feroke village, 2nd ward of Kunnamangalam block panchayat, Kuttiady division of Kunnummal block, Cherukunnu ward of Velam panchayat, Punnakkal ward of Thiruvambady panchayat and Kallai division of Kozhikode Corporation are fighting against them. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is facing a rebel threat from a Congress worker in Chalappuram ward. The League also has a rebel threat in the 2nd Ward of Vadakara Municipality. In Edacheri panchayat ward 12, the official Congress candidate had to withdraw his nomination after an IUML rebel was declared the official UDF candidate. Another rebel, in ward 16 of the same panchayat, was forced to withdraw the nomination.
However, the official version is that there are only three rebel candidates for Congress to deal with. “We have given them an ultimatum. They have to offer their support to the official Congress candidate within 48 hours or the party will take action against them,” said district Congress committee president K. Praveen Kumar.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) too has problems with rebels in select panchayats. The official Communist Party of India candidate in Nadapuram panchayat ward 1 had to withdraw his nomination after the rebel Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) candidate was declared the official LDF candidate. The CPI(M) faces a serious rebel threat in Olavanna panchayat as well.
In Kozhikode district, as many as 9,977 nominations were filed till November 21, of which 118 were rejected on scrutiny.
Published – 24 Nov 2025 21:47 IST
