Kochi: Coming to terms with the reality that only a candidate with wide acceptance could earn it a victory in the Ernakulam Assembly seat, the LDF has decided to field Manu Roy, an advocate practicing in the Kerala High Court, in the upcoming byelection.
Son of senior journalist K M Roy, Manu’s name was suggested by the district secretariat of the CPM to the party’s state committee. The CPM leadership had held discussions with Manu before his name was forwarded. However, the official announcement in this regard is expected only on Friday.
Other likely candidates considered by CPM in Ernakulam included government pleader Ron Sebastian, who is the son of former MP Sebastian Paul and M Anil Kumar who had contested unsuccessfully against UDF’s Hibi Eden in the 2016 Assembly elections.
Manu was chosen after examining all aspects. “Family relationships and a wide network of other connections would favour me at the hustings,” Manu told Manorama News.
The contacts maintained by his father K M Roy are also expected to boost Manu’s chances.
Regarding his links with the Left, Manu said: “As a student, I had been an SFI activist.”
Other LDF candidates
Meanwhile, the CPM district secretariat in Pathanamthitta that met on Wednesday decided to make DYFI state vice-president K U Janeesh the LDF candidate in Konni Assembly seat.
At Vattiyoorkavu, Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram City V K Prasanth would fight the bypoll for the LDF. The front has also decided to field C H Kunhambu in Manjeswaram.
