Congress to field sitting MLAs to strengthen Lok Sabha chances in Kerala?

Congress to field sitting MLAs to strengthen Lok Sabha chances in Kerala?
Oommen Chandy, P J Joseph, Adoor Prakash and Shafi Parambil.

Thiruvananthapuram: Calls for fielding sitting MLAs in the upcoming Lok Sabha election to defeat the CPI(M) are rife in the Congress. The defeatist attitude of giving up ‘CPI(M) stronghold’ seats even before the polls needs to change, feel the cadre.

Konni MLA and former minister Adoor Prakash is being considered for Attingal, where CPI(M) has been winning for a while. The rumours got stronger after Prakash was seen attending several party events in the constituency under DCC’s directions. Party sources believe Prakash’s personal clout, contacts and influence among his community members could give him an edge over P Sampath MP.

Though the CPI(M) is yet to finalise their candidate for Attingal, Sampath’s chances of defending his seat is good. The Congress’s poor choice of candidate is blamed for the recent loses here when Chirayinkeezhu - the constituency’s name before the 2008 delimitation – had favoured the party. Adoor Prakash is expected to give Sampath a tough fight.

The party is considering MLA Shafi Parambil for the Palakkad seat, another CPI(M) stronghold. Though MB Rajesh MP won the 2014 polls by over one lakh votes, he scraped through in 2009 for just under 2000 votes. Then a young leader, Satishan Pacheni had given him a tough fight, a feat many of Shafi’s supporters believe he can match or better. Another candidate in consideration for the same seat is Palakkad DCC president VK Sreekandan.

Both Adoor Prakash and Shafi Parambil told ‘Manorama’ that there are no talks of contesting sitting MLAs and they are just rumours.

Some opine that veteran leader PJ Joseph could contest to reclaim the Idukki seat. That and Oommen Chandy’s candidacy from Kottayam could help the UDF make a comeback in the region.

Will Vijayan enter the field?

Alathur constituency could be wrested away from CPI(M)’s clutches if IM Vijayan, the football legend, sticks to the Congress’s game plan.

The party is yet to find a suitable man for the constituency where the CPI(M) has had a field day for long. Some sources claim Vijayan has been popped the question and if he agrees the Left could get a ‘red card’ here.

Congress to field sitting MLAs to strengthen Lok Sabha chances in Kerala?
Alathur constituency could be wrested away from CPI(M)’s clutches if IM Vijayan, the football legend, sticks to the Congress’s game plan.

Vijayan was the blue eyed boy of ‘Leader’ K Karunakaran. When the latter formed the DIC(K) in 2005, the footballer was associated with it too, claim some sources. But others opine he may not contest since Vijayan is employed with the Kerala Police. Even if he contests, it won’t be from the reservation seat of Alathur, but Thrissur itself, say others.

K Radhakrishnan comes forward

The district committee of the CPI(M) is likely to suggest the name of its central committee member K Radhakrishnan for Alathur constituency. The former minister and speaker might replace PK Biju, who contested from here in the last two Lok Sabha polls, as he is not finding favour among the grassroots level workers.

Biju was SFI’s national secretary when he contested in 2009. He retained the seat in 2014 with twice the winning margin, but failed to make inroads into the party’s support base subsequently. Radhakrishnan’s supporters believe Vadakkanchery, a UDF bastion, will help him. Add to that advances in Chelakkara and Kunnamkulam, and Radhakrishnan is a sure shot.

K Radhakrishnan
K Radhakrishnan

Radhakrishnan is the president of Dalit Shoshan Mukthi Manch, a CPI(M) organisation for the backward communities. A victory in Lok Sabha polls will help his work since he operates from New Delhi, the party believes. The former district secretary was twice elected MLA from Chelakkara. Radhakrishnan could be a unanimous choice for the seat.

Woman candidate from KC(M)?

The Kerala Congress (M) wants Kottayam and Idukki seats. Party vice chairman Jose K Mani said rumours of KC(M) candidate from Wayanad are unfounded. Asked about the chances of a woman contesting, he said ‘there is equality everywhere now’. His response comes in the wake of rumours that wife Nisha Jose K Mani could take up his Kottayam seat.

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