Two candidate dies in different wards, election cancelled

Kozhikode/T'puram: Election cancelled in two wards in different states after two candidates died.An IUML candidate in Moothedam panchayat, Malappuram died on Sunday night after collapsing shortly after returning home from campaigning. The deceased Vattath Haseena, 52, was contesting from Ward-7 (Payimbadam) of Moothedam panchayat. She worked as an anganwadi teacher at Payimbadam. Haseena spent the day engaged in intensive door-to-door campaigning and attending house meetings. After returning home, she developed severe chest pain and collapsed at 11.15pm. She died while en route to a private hospital in Edakkara. Sources said she suffered a heart attack. The funeral was held on Monday. Following her death, the district collector announced that the election to the Payimbadam ward has been cancelled and the notification for conduct of the election in the ward would be issued later. She was elected to the Moothedam panchayat in 2000 and served as president of Women's League and as director of Moothedam Urban Bank. The election in the Vizhinjam ward of the city corporation was postponed following the death of independent candidate Justin Francis, 60. He was hit by an autorickshaw while campaigning at Vizhinjam at 6.50pm on Monday. He was taken to a hospital and was on ventilator support. The announcement was made by returning officer and sub-collector O V Alfred. According to the official statement issued by district administration, the polling process scheduled in the ward was suspended as mandated by election procedures when a candidate passes away after nominations are finalised. State Election Commission will announce the revised polling date and subsequent procedures later.