CPM's Kannur District Secretariat Prepares Candidate List for Kerala Assembly Elections
The Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s Kannur district secretariat has finalized a preliminary list of prospective candidates for the upcoming Kerala legislative assembly elections, sparking significant political discussion with its notable exclusions and controversial inclusions.
Notable Omission of Former Health Minister
Most prominently, the list does not include former health minister and party central committee member K K Shailaja, whose candidature will now be determined by the party's higher committees. This development comes despite Shailaja's remarkable electoral performance in the previous assembly election, where she secured the Mattannur constituency with a record-breaking margin of 61,035 votes.
Controversial Recommendations for Key Constituencies
For the Mattannur seat that Shailaja currently represents, the district leadership has recommended DYFI state secretary V K Sanoj as the prospective candidate. Meanwhile, for the Thalassery constituency, currently held by two-time MLA and assembly speaker A N Shamseer, the secretariat has proposed Karayi Rajan.
Rajan's recommendation is particularly controversial as he is an accused in the Fazal murder case and had previously resigned as Kannur district panchayat president after a court restricted him from leaving Ernakulam district.
Shailaja's Alternative Prospects and Other Recommendations
The state secretariat's forthcoming decision will be crucial in determining Shailaja's electoral future. If not fielded from Mattannur, she may be considered for the Thaliparamba constituency instead. Both Shailaja and Shamseer have already completed two terms as MLAs, which may influence the party's final candidate selection.
The district leadership has also endorsed Payyannur MLA T I Madhusoodhanan for another term, despite allegations of financial irregularities in handling party funds leveled by expelled party leader V Kunhikrishnan.
Family Connections and Sitting MLAs
In Thaliparamba, currently represented by CPM state secretary M V Govindan, the district secretariat has suggested the name of his wife and former Anthoor municipality chairperson P K Shyamala. Party leader N Sukanya is also being considered for this seat.
Sitting MLAs K V Sumesh from Azhikode and M Vijin from Kalliassery have been recommended to contest again from their respective constituencies. Notably, the Dharmadam constituency, represented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, was not discussed at the district secretariat meeting, as decisions regarding his candidature will be made by the party politburo.
Kasaragod District Recommendations and Next Steps
Meanwhile, in a parallel development, CPM's Kasaragod district secretariat has recommended V P P Musthafa for the Thrikkaripur constituency and sitting MLA C H Kunjambu for the Uduma seat.
All these district-level recommendations will now undergo thorough review by the CPM state secretariat and subsequently by the state committee, which will ultimately make the final decisions regarding candidate selection for the crucial assembly elections.
