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Where There Is Visa

Ponnani: E. Ahamed

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Where There Is Visa
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Sitting MP E. Ahamed, who’s contesting from neighbouring Malappuram constituency this time, has focused more on his contribution to the entire district. Locals recount Ahamed’s initiatives for the Haj House and the passport office in Malappuram, where one out of two families has someone employed in the Gulf. "But for Ahamed, we wouldn’t have a passport office in the vicinity because Kerala already has three other passport offices," says Mujib, a local cabbie.

Ahamed had also used 97.88 per cent of the Rs 10 crore MPLADS funds in Ponnani. Most of it went into infrastructure—Rs 7 crore for roads, bridges and pathways. People in the coastal belt are also a relieved lot. In Niramaruthur panchayat, the MPLADS drinking water project affords a neighbourhood tap to every five-family cluster.

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Ahamed’s main rival in Malappuram this time, CPI(M) veteran T.K. Hamza, though, pooh-poohs his efforts. "If you look at the distribution pattern, you’ll realise all the money spent in Ponnani was in areas dominated by Ahamed’s party workers," he says. IUML leader and Ahamed’s pointsman, Abdurahman Randathani, denies this, citing projects like the Rs 50 lakh allotted for a library and digital resource centre at a local college. Ahamed’s "sustained support" for the modernisation of the government hospital at Manjeri, the district HQ, is also cited in this regard.

Speaking for Ahamed, League leader Kutty Ahmed Kutty said the next focus would be to get more central funds for the Ponnani harbour project.

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