Malappuram Collector seeks report on the 'Gulf Offer' amid escalating tensions in the Thavanur contest

THE District Collector of Malappuram has sought a report on a controversial campaign offer from an IUML leader amid a fiercely competitive electoral battle in Thavanur, where former Minister K.T. Jaleel and Congress’s V.S. Joy are vying for votes amid rising scrutiny of electoral conduct.

Traditionally a Left stronghold, the constituency is witnessing an animated contest this time.

At the centre is Left-supported independent former minister and four-time sitting legislator K.T. Jaleel, 59, who shot to prominence as a giant killer in 2006 by defeating IUML heavyweight P.K. Kunhalikutty from Kuttipuram.

Since then, Jaleel has secured three consecutive wins from Thavanur and is now seeking a fourth term, though the contest appears tighter than before.

Taking him on is Congress leader V.S. Joy, the Malappuram District Congress Committee president and a prominent Youth Congress face.

With the United Democratic Front (UDF) controlling all seven panchayats in the constituency and holding a notional lead of over 10,000 votes from local body polls, Joy’s candidacy has energised the opposition camp.

The spark, however, has come from IUML leader C.P. Bava Haji's widely discussed offer, a 15-day luxury Gulf trip for booth-level workers who secure the maximum lead for Joy.

While the promise has boosted morale among UDF workers, prompting quips that “this time even booth agents may travel," it has also drawn the attention of election authorities.

For Jaleel, backed by the Left Democratic Front despite internal murmurs, the challenge is significant.

His narrow victory margin of under 2,200 votes last time underscores the stakes.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance is looking to leverage its growing vote share, adding another layer of unpredictability.

As scrutiny over the “Gulf offer” intensifies, Thavanur’s battle is no longer just political; it now carries regulatory overtones, making it one of the most closely watched contests this election.