Muslim League strategizes to bolster UDF support in Ponnani, focuses on grassroots unity

MALAPPURAM: Muslim League is taking steps to mitigate the potential impact of a vote loss from Samasta in the Ponnani Lok Sabha constituency. Local leaders have been instructed to strengthen UDF ties to secure maximum Congress votes. Top Congress leaders will be sent for the campaign, emphasizing unity at the grassroots level. The dispute between five local bodies over positions will be resolved in the Cheriyamundam panchayat, where the Chairman of the Standing Committee position will be given to the Congress. The league aims to adopt a more inclusive approach, moving away from a dominating attitude. They hope that the UDF vote will remain strong with the personal influence of Abdus Samad Samadani and the unity of the front.

Although the LDF holds four of the seven assembly seats, the League leads in the Lok Sabha elections with a significant majority in Kottayakkal, Thirurangadi and Tirur constituencies, where EK Sunnis wield considerable influence. Samasta President Geoffrey Muthukoya hails from Tirurangadi, a factor that concerns the League in these areas. To address this, they plan to boost vote share in Tanur, Tavanur, Trithala, and Ponnani constituencies, which have LDF MLAs. The league's cyber wing has been circulating footage of Geoffrey Muthukoya visiting their residences, fostering a sense of camaraderie on social media. In the assembly elections, the difference between UDF and LDF in the Ponnani Lok Sabha constituency was only 6,000 votes.