KANNUR: In the 2021 assembly elections, LDF made history by winning a second consecutive term. In Dharmadam, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, contesting for the second time, cemented his position by winning with a margin of 50,123 votes, the second-highest by any candidate that year.
As he seeks a third term, Pinarayi is facing off against a more determined NDA and a more confident UDF. The BJP has stepped up its efforts in Dharmadam with district-level programmes and rallies by Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha in support of its candidate and party state secretary Ranjith K.
The UDF has fielded Congress’s Abdul Rasheed, who had lost from Taliparamba in the last election, but still drew attention for significantly reducing the LDF’s victory margin.
“The UDF’s election campaign is getting strong response from the public, with active participation from people across Dharmadam,” said M K Mohanan, UDF general convener of Dharmadam constituency. “We began from Pinarayi grama panchayat. We covered even CPM strongholds, and received encouraging support there.”
On the alleged attack recently on the workers at Kaithapram, Mohanan said it showed the CPM’s fear of the growing public backing for the UDF.
The LDF has consistently improved its margin in Dharmadam, from 15,162 votes in 2011 to 36,905 in 2016, when Pinarayi first contested from the seat. In 2021, his margin crossed the 50,000-mark.
The LDF’s vote tally rose from 72,354 in 2011 to 87,329 and 95,522 in later elections. In comparison, the UDF secured 57,192, 50,424 and 45,399 votes, respectively.
Meanwhile, the NDA, too, has shown a steady growth in the constituency, with its vote tally rising from 4,963 votes in 2011 to 12,763 in 2016. The trend continued in 2021, with the alliance receiving 14,623 votes.
This time, the BJP stepped up its campaign in Dharmadam well ahead of the election with a series of high-profile programmes. A ‘mega adalat’ was organised on March 6, marking an early push to engage voters.
The campaign gained further visibility when the Tripura CM inaugurated the NDA election convention office on March 26.
“We have completed one round of campaigning. We have received immense response from people,” said Abhilash Velandy, NDA Dharmadam constituency convener.