Kasaragod (Kerala), Mar 26 (PTI) The SDPI on Thursday withdrew its candidates from key constituencies, including Manjeshwar in Kasaragod, for the April 9 Assembly polls, drawing sharp reactions from BJP leader K Surendran, who is contesting from the seat.
Apart from Manjeshwar, the SDPI also withdrew its candidate from Mankada in Malappuram district.
Following a meeting held at Uppala in the morning, attended by state leaders, SDPI candidate Ashraf K M withdrew his nomination from Manjeshwar. He was reportedly reluctant initially and walked out of the meeting.
After the meeting, Ashraf said the state leadership would explain the decision.
He was contesting against BJP former state president K Surendran and IUML candidate A K M Ashraf.
Party sources said the withdrawal was aimed at avoiding division of votes among parties opposing the BJP, particularly the IUML in the constituency.
Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) state president C P Abdul Latheef told reporters that the decision was taken considering public sentiment.
He said that though UDF leaders had contacted the party, it did not engage in discussions, alleging that their concern was more about losing Manjeshwar than countering the BJP’s rise in around 11 Assembly constituencies where it secured significant votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
He added that the party later decided to withdraw the candidate following appeals from various religious and cultural organisations.
In a statement, SDPI state secretary Ansari Enath said decisions on contesting elections and political positions are internal matters of the party.
He reiterated that the SDPI had earlier stated it would support a common candidate in constituencies where the BJP had strong prospects, failing which it would field its own candidates.
He also criticised mainstream political fronts for allegedly mobilising minority votes by raising fears over the BJP while failing to counter its politics ideologically.
Citing examples in Kottangal in Pathanamthitta and various local bodies in Karnataka, he said the SDPI had continued to contest despite a strong BJP presence and had emerged as a force capable of keeping the saffron party out of power.
He said both the decision to contest and the subsequent withdrawal in Manjeshwar were taken by the party.
Meanwhile, Surendran alleged that Congress leader V D Satheesan and IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty were behind the withdrawal of the SDPI candidate.
“Satheesan lacks the spine to declare that he does not want SDPI support,” he told reporters.
He also alleged that UDF leaders exerted pressure on the SDPI through Muslim community leaders and organisations.
However, Surendran expressed confidence in winning the seat, which he had lost in the past three Assembly elections, two of which were on narrow margins.
In Mankada, SDPI candidate Ashraf, who was contesting against IUML leader Manjalamkuzhi Ali, also withdrew his nomination.
He told PTI that the decision was taken in line with the party’s state leadership.
“The state leadership asked me to contest, and I filed my nomination. Now they have directed me to withdraw it, and I have done so,” he said.
Party sources told PTI that Ashraf was directed to withdraw the nomination, considering local factors.
The SDPI had fielded candidates in 44 seats across Kerala in the April 9 Assembly elections. PTI TBA TBA KH
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