The Kerala CPI(M), leading the Opposition lDF in the State, has finalised its list of 15 candidates for the lok Sabha election. CPI, the second biggest partner of the front, had released its list of four candidates earlier in the week. The lDF list will be complete with front partner Janata Dal (S) declaring its lone candidate — for Kottayam seat — within two days.
The battle lines for the polls in Kerala will be fully drawn most probably this week itself when the BJP announces the names of its candidates for the remaining four constituencies. The ruling UDF’s list has already been finalized with the Congress announcing the names of its 15 candidates on Thursday. The other UDF partners had finalised their candidates earlier.
As per the CPI(M)’s list of 15 candidates, five of them will be Independents while the remaining ten will be contesting under the official party symbol. Prominent among the Independents are film star Innocent in the Chalakkudy seat and Joyce George, legal advisor of the Church-backed High Range Protection Council, in Idukki.
Former IAS officer Christy Fernandez, contesting from the Ernakulam constituency against Congress’s KV Thomas, is another Independent backed by the CPI(M). The Marxists are also fielding former Congress leaders Peelipose Thomas and V Abdul Rahman in Pathanamthitta and Ponnani constituencies respectively as Independent candidates.
As per the original schedule, the CPI(M) was to finalise its list on Tuesday but it got delayed after front constituents, Janata Dal (S) and NCP, staking claim for seats.
Janata Dal (S) was allocated the Kottayam seat on Wednesday but the NCP had to satisfy itself with the CPI(M)’s promise to give it more seats in the coming Assembly election. The CPI(M), which is re-nominating all the four sitting MPs it has in Kerala, is also fielding two woman candidates: PK Sainaba taking on Muslim league’s UDF candidate, Union Minister Ahmed, in Malappuram and former State Minister PK Sreemathi who will take on Congress’s K Sudhakaran in Kannur.
The CPI(M)’s sitting MPs getting tickets again are A Sampath (Attingal), PK Biju (Alathur), MB Rajesh (Palakkad) and P Karunakaran (Kasaragod). Politbureau member MA Baby (Kollam), Alappuzha district president CB Chandrababu (Alappuzha), DYFI leader AM Shamseer (Vadakara) and central committee member A Vijayaraghavan are the other CPI(M) candidates.