Here in Kozhikode, one family can mean 300 voters

KOZHIKODE: Candidates here can ignore the ancient Muslim ' tharavadus" (large family homes) of Kuttichira at their own peril. Some of these imposing roof-tiled buildings almost 400 years old, house over 300 registered voters under one roof.

The voting decisions of these large Malabar joint families who live in sprawling compounds lining the Kozhikode alleys near the beach can make or mar electoral prospects of candidates, especially in razor contests. Incumbent MP M K Raghavan knows. In the last election, he scraped through with an 838-vote margin.

This time around, Raghavan isn"t taking chances. He has visited Kunjithan Malika, one of the traditional Muslim joint families that have over 300 voters living in interconnected houses along the Kuttichira pond.

Although many of these families have strong Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and UDF leanings, LDF volunteers too have made forays raising issues like price rise and gas cylinder subsidies hoping that in these households such demands would cut ice.

Continuing an old tradition, women in these joint families continue living in their ancestral homes even after marriage. The newlywed get special rooms (Maniyara) — their independent living space. In the earlier days new rooms were added to the structure after each marriage — that explains the expanse of these family dwellings.

PKM Rafeeque is a local IUML leader and a voter from one of these families. Members of his household constitute a majority of voters in polling booth 18, he says. The Kunjithan Malika family has 316 voters and they live in three houses sitting next to each other. "We go in a procession to vote," Rafeeque says.