Kozhikode: Top leaders have campaigned for each party. Second phase of poll will be held in 66 constituencies of Kozhkode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam on 29 Saturday.  

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi CPM secretary Prakash Karat, BJP president Rajnath singh, and campaign leader LK Advani campaigned in various areas of the constituencies. LDF have a slight edge over UDF in Kozhikode district. In 2001 assembly election both the fronts shared six constituencies each. However, that was during a UDF wave all over Kerala. Now the atmosphere has changed. There is no such wave now. 

Tight fight is on at Koduvally where DIC (K) state president K. Muraleedharan is contesting. His opponent is a former league local leader PTA Rahim. Rahim is contesting as LDF independent. All political observers are keen on this constituency. This election will decide the political career of Muraleedharan .With the arrival of Sonia at Calicut, UDF camp have become more aggressive in campaign. 

In Malappuram district many prominent  leaders are in the fray including PWD minister M.K.Muneer, Aryadan Muhammad, E.T.Muhammad Basheer, LDF convenor Paloli Muhammad Kutty, DIC leader M.P.Gangadharan etc. Kuttippuram is witnessing a fierce battle between IUML state general secretary P.K Kunhalikkutty and LDF independent K.T.Jaleel. Jaleel was a strong leader and youth league all India convener. He was suspended from league due to his questioning of some decisive issues like black sand mining, express highway, ice cream parlour sex racket in which Kunhalikkutty was accused. 

One noted element this time is that there is no ante-govt wave anywhere which was seen in almost all assembly elections. That gives UDF camp the confidence to hope for a reelection.  The crowd puller of CPM V.S.Achuthanandan’s presence in the LDF campaign gave more energy to left camp. At the same time undercurrent in the party cadres may cause severe setback in some of the constituencies. While UDF is focusing developmental issues and projects, LDF is attacking govt for ante-people agenda.