A party worker paints a wall in support of his candidate during a local body election campaign in Kozhikode on November 20. Photo credit: K. Ragesh
A spate of resignations and rebel candidatures in several constituencies in Kozhikode district has created widespread embarrassment among major political parties and confusion among voters ahead of the upcoming local body elections.
Longtime party workers from various political fronts are on the list of those who have left their parent organizations after disagreements over candidate selection led to a fractured voter base and problems with campaign coordination.
Attempts by the leaders to mediate have so far failed as most of the rebels are now satisfied with the offers they have received from rival parties. Although the major political parties describe it as a “temporary phenomenon”, the defection of loyal party leaders and workers is said to disrupt pre-planned campaign strategies.
One notable development is the recent walkout of about 25 members from the Communist Party of India (CPI), including past and present local leaders and their family members, following disputes over the final list of candidates for the Kavilumpara panchayat. Leaders of farmers’ organizations are also on the list of dissidents.
In a similar setback for the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Ashraf Kottakkal, a councilor who was also chairman of the Payyoli Village Development Standing Committee, resigned after internal disagreements over candidate selection. He subsequently joined the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). His move followed that of a senior Congress leader who also quit her post and joined hands with the RJD on similar issues.
The pattern continued in Kozhikode city as well, where an IUML councilor from the Moonnalinkal Corporation ward defected to the RJD. She is now contesting as an LDF-backed candidate, questioning the IUML’s decision to field another candidate in its caucus.
Another blow to the IUML was the resignation of U. Poker, a state committee member and party functionary for four decades. He stepped down following controversies over the selection of a candidate in Nallalam ward, where many supporters had championed 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 they were denied seats in the elections. Also in Kozhikode city, Alphonsa Mathew, Congress MLA from Nadakakvu ward, left the party to contest again on the Aam Aadmi Party ticket.
In the BJP too, there were major conflicts over the selection of candidates. The final lists of candidates were delayed due to differences of opinion in major wards like Chalappuram, Nadakkavu, Kottuli and Marad.
As many voters remain divided and the campaign team struggles to consolidate support, some voters feel the turbulence reflects deeper undercurrents in local political dynamics. A young voter from Kodiyathur panchayat says it is high time voters look into the underlying reasons behind the emergence of rebel candidates. Meanwhile, another voter from Azhiyur panchayat feels that there is a political game between the influential segments of the party and the new leaders who are challenging their authority.
Published – 20 Nov 2025 20:42 IST
