Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala has almost finalised the list of candidates for the 20 constituencies in the State for the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for March-April 2024. Most of the sitting UDF MPs from the State would be renominated barring a couple of persons whose performance during the last five years was anything but satisfactory.
K Sudhakaran, KPCC president who represents the Kannur constituency is likely to move out from the race due to an ailment for which he is undergoing treatment. He is likely to be nominated as Rajya Sabha candidate to help him to stay out of the din and hectic journeys associated with campaigning.
Kannur is likely to get a young and new candidate and it could be Dr Shama Muhammed, the young dental surgeon who is also the national spokesperson of the party. Rahul Gandhi has been impressed by her performance in articulating party views as well as in countering the charges made by the BJP. Since K Sudhakaran, KPCC chief who is the sitting member from Kannur is not in the best of health, Dr Muhammed is likely to be fielded as the candidate from Kannur,” said a senior party leader in the State.
Kasaragod, the northern most constituency in Kerala, represented by Rajmohan Unnithan will also see a change of candidate. “The Muslim League has demanded three seats instead of the two seats which has been allocated to the party in the previous hustings. Since the constituency has a considerable Muslim population, the Congress is likely to offer Kasaragod to Muslim League,” said the leader who does not want his name to be quoted.
There is widespread resentment against the style of functioning of Unnithan who scrapped through with a thin majority of 40,000 in the last election, said a veteran socio-cultural organisation.