Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) demonstrated its grip over "Muslim heartland" of Kerala by winning Malappuram and Ponnani Lok Sabha seats, overcoming the challenge posed by CPI(M)'s electoral adjustment with Abdul Nasser Madani-led PDP.
While IUML President E Ahamed regained the Malappuram seat by a huge margin of over one lakh votes, his colleague E T Muhammad Basheer came out successfully in nearby Ponnani with a handsome margin of 82,765 votes over the LDF independent Hussein Randathani.
Ponnani was the turf chosen by the CPI(M) to try its strategic truck with PDP through a common independent.
The League's role was also crucial in the sterling performance of the Congress in most of the Lok Sabha seats in in North Kerala.