T’puram/Thrissur/Kottayam: With the scrutiny of nomination papers and the deadline for withdrawals ending on Thursday, the electoral battlefield in the state has become clear ahead of the assembly elections. A total of 890 candidates remain in the fray, setting the stage for multi-cornered contests across constituencies. In the previous polls, 957 candidates were in the contest. Koduvally constituency in Kozhikode has the highest number of candidates, with 13 contestants in the race. Manjeshwar, which saw only six candidates in 2021, has witnessed a sharp rise this time with 11 candidates contesting. Besides, Peravoor and Thiruvananthapuram constituencies also have 11 candidates each, indicating intensified competition. As the contest takes shape, it is not just the candidates and their party affiliations drawing attention, but also the allocation of election symbols, several of which have sparked controversy and setbacks. In Vadakara, UDF candidate K K Rema was denied the football symbol as it belongs to a political party in Goa and was instead allotted the television symbol. In Ambalappuzha, UDF-backed independent G Sudhakaran has been assigned the coconut grove symbol, while LDF-backed independent NMR Razak in Palakkad received the pot symbol. In Kozhikode South, LDF candidate Ahmed Devarkovil was denied the glass tumbler symbol and was instead allotted the bucket symbol, despite having already begun campaigning with printed materials featuring the former. Similarly, UDF candidate P V Anvar in Beypore has been assigned the gas cylinder symbol. In Elathur, LDF candidate A K Saseendran suffered a blow as the clock symbol, used by him in the last three elections, was allotted this time to rival P K Saseendran of NCP Ajit Pawar faction. He will no use a symbol depicting a man blowing a trumpet. In Thiruvananthapuram Central, UDF candidate C P John received the ship symbol, while LDF’s Sudheer Karamana was allotted the camera. Among LDF rebels, V Kunhikrishnan in Payyannur will contest with the electric post symbol, while T K Govindan in Taliparamba has been assigned the gas cylinder symbol. With symbols playing a crucial role in voter recall, especially among grassroots electorates, these last-minute changes are expected to influence campaign strategies as candidates head into an intense electoral battle. 2.71 voters in final list With the election commission publishing the final voters’ list ahead of the assembly elections, the total number of voters in the state stood at 2,71,42,952. Of these, 2,42,093 are overseas electors. Of the total voters, 1,32,20,811 are men while 1,39,21,868 are women. Moreover, 273 voters are from the third gender.Cong rebels withdraw nominationsJayaprakash Poovathingal, the Congress rebel candidate in Thrissur assembly seat, withdrew his nomination on Thursday following discussion with the party leaders.Poovathingal had filed his nomination to protest against the alleged cornering of all Congress positions by “one section in the society”. He said the party leaders have assured him they will look into his complaints and will take appropriate corrective actions.Poovathingal said party leaders, including the DCC president Joseph Tajet, former president M P Vincent and KPCC general secretary Manacaud Suresh had spoken to him to resolve the issue.Meanwhile, UDF rebel candidate Saji Joseph withdrew his nomination in Kuttanad assembly constituency. Joseph, who was the DCC vice-president, filed his nomination as a rebel in protest of the seat not being taken over from Kerala Congress (Joseph).The withdrawal followed discussions with AICC general secretary KC Venugopal and opposition leader V D Satheesan. Venugopal urged Joseph not to engage in actions harmful to the party and UDF and to work unitedly for the front’s victory.AICC general secretary Deepa Dasmunsi was tasked with further discussions with Joseph. Joseph said that the nomination was withdrawn following assurances from the UDF leadership. He also mentioned that he decided to contest the election to address the issues faced by ordinary people in Kuttanad due to local problems and irresponsible approaches from the govt level.
