Bharathapuzha plays a unifying role in linking all the seven Assembly constituencies in Ponnani, including Thrithala which comes under Palakkad district. The people in Thrithala share a culture similar to that of people living on the shores of Bharathapuzha. And this factor saves Thrithala from an identity crisis though all other Assembly constituencies in Ponnani Lok Sabha constituency belong to Malappuram district.
Nila (Bharathapuzha) connects the entire Ponnani Lok Sabha constituency like a prominent vein in the body. A drive through the shores of the river from Thrithala to Ponnani will provide a clear picture about the political taste of people living in these areas. One can find the heritage of Parayi Petta Panthirukulam, the places described in the works of prominent writers such as M T Vasudevan Nair and V T Bhattathiripad, and the legacy of Captain Lakshmi Sahgal on a journey through the heart of Thrithala constituency. The people here are also proud of the ‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan who belongs to Ponnani.
“The culture of people in Thrithala is more connected with Ponnani Lok Sabha constituency rather than the previous Ottappalam constituency. Nila plays an important role in creating a similar identity among the people in the entire Ponnani Lok Sabha constituency. The political issues of Thrithala are common with those of the people in Ponnani rather than the people in other parts of Palakkad district,” V T Balram, Thrithala MLA, said.
The competition mood is high in Thrithala constituency as in other areas of Ponnani constituency. Flex boards will invite your attention even from the Pattambi town, which is on the northern side of the constituency. Both the UDF and the LDF are looking eagerly on the votes from the constituency as they offer a close fight between both the fronts. It is the only constituency which favoured LDF candidate in last Lok Sabha elections in Ponnani.
“Thrithala has favoured LDF in the last Lok Sabha election. The LDF candidate has got majority in the constituency in 2009 election. We hope LDF will retain the lead in the constituency this time too, though it favoured the UDF in the Assembly elections in 2011,” E S Govindan, a CPM worker said.
Thrithala is the only constituency where Congress has more votes than the IUML in Ponnani. V T Balram is confident that all the Congress votes would be polled in favour of E T Muhammed Basheer and it will provide majority for ET in the constituency. But the LDF camp here is planning to channel a few Congress votes in favour of them.