Altogether, over 75,000 candidates are out in the poll fray. As many as 54, 494 candidates are trying their luck in 941 gramapanchayats while 6,877 candidates are contesting in 152 block panchayats. The 14 district panchayats are witnessing a battle among 1,317 candidates. The 86 municipalities will see 20,339 fighting out. For the control of six corporations in the State, 1, 986 candidates are in the field.

The stakes are high for all the three fronts, especially for the LDF. A defeat in the local body polls could make it extremely difficult for the Front in the Assembly elections due in May next year.

The LDF has, traditionally, held an upper hand in the local body elections. But this time around, it is a different ball game altogether. The LDF has been pushed on to the defensive by the slew of allegations such as the gold smuggling case, the drug case involving Bineesh Kodiyeri, son of senior CPI-M leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and the legal setback in the Periya double murder case. The LDF has not been able to effectively counter the aggressive Opposition campaign against the Government so far. But the party is pinning on its hopes on the fact that in the local body polls, it is the local issues which matter in the ultimate analysis.

That is why, the LDF leaders are wisely focusing on a campaign which highlights the Government’s developmental initiatives, increase in social security and welfare measures. It has also taken care to field candidates with clean images.

In the 2015 local body elections, the LDF had won 551 gramapanchayats, 88 block panchayats, 7 district panchayats, 45 municipalities and 2 corporations. The UDF had bagged 362 gramapanchayats, 62 block panchayats, 7 district panchayats, 40 municipalities and one corporation. As for the NDA, the front won 14 gramapanchayats and one municipality.

A notable feature of the elections is the fielding of more Independents by various parties. The CPI-M is leading this surprising change. 40 per cent of the CPI-M candidates have been fielded as LDF-backed Independents! And 10 per cent of the Congress candidates are also out in the fray as Independents backed by the party. These Independents have avoided the use of the official symbols of the parties backing them.

The entry into the LDF of the Kerala Congress(M) Jose faction and the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) will add to the strength of the Front. It is expected to benefit the LDF in Kottayam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta districts and parts of Ernakulam district where the Jose faction is a force to reckon with. Similarly, the LJD’s presence will boost the LDF candidates’ prospects in Kozhikode and Wayanad districts. An early start to its campaign is another plus factor for the LDF.

As for the UDF, the Front looked to be in an advantageous position in the beginning, thanks to the slew of controversies bedevilling the LDF Government. Its ‘a vote against corruption’ campaign had the potential to scare the LDF. But the Front has lost that advantage with the imprisonment of former PWD minister and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader VK Ibrahim Kunju and another IUML MLA, MC Kamaruddin on corruption charges. A few more UDF leaders are under the corruption cloud.

Moreover, the exit of Jose faction of the KC-M and the LJD has considerably weakened the UDF. The setbacks to the front could come in Kottayam, Idukki and Kozhikode districts. Adding to the front’s woes is the factional feud in the Congress itself over seat allocation. If the Front is able to cash in on the controversies plaguing the LDF, it may end up improving its performance.

The BJP-led NDA is exuding optimism. The Front is hopeful of a better show this time around. The confidence stems from its belief that the LDF’s discomfiture will help the BJP to increase its strength in the local bodies. It is testing time for the new BJP state Chief K. Surendran too. The BJP is hoping to win at least 7000 wards. The party is sure of putting up an impressive show in Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Kasaragod districts, which are its strongholds. The BJP is pretty confident of wresting Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and retaining Palakkad municipality.

But its weakness is the ongoing factional feud. Dissident leaders like Sobha Surendran and leaders owing allegiance to the PK Krishnadas are not active in the campaign in protest against the ‘autocratic’ style of Surendran’s functioning. This is bound to tell on its overall performance.

The BJP has also adopted a new strategy to woo the minorities in an attempt to widen its vote base beyond the traditional Hindu vote bank. The party has fielded as many as 400 minority candidates, including 117 Muslims. But the strategy is unlikely to succeed in a State like Kerala with its strong secular credentials.

The final electoral roll has as many as 2.71 crore voters. Of this, 1.29 crore are males, 1.45 crore are females and 282 transgenders. The three-phased polls will be held on December 8, 10 and 14. The counting of votes is on December 16. (IPA Service)