KARANTHUR: It was last week that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala visited Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar at Markazu Saqafathi Sunniyya at Karanthur, seeking his blessings. Whenever elections are announced, candidates and leaders, irrespective of their party and front, flock to this powerhouse. According to Markaz general manager C Mohammed Faizy, Kanthapuram is one among the first persons whom the candidates want to meet.
“What draws these leaders to Markaz is the prayer and blessings they get from our leader,” he says. “At least 25 candidates have visited Usthad here during this poll season while more than 100 have sought his blessings over phone,” Faizy said. Being an influential person, Kanthapuram believes that leaders could ensure support of his followers in various constituencies. “We don’t follow any political ideologies and are not in favour of any party. Sunnis are allowed to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice. But they strictly watch how these candidates approach their leadership,” Kanthapuram says.