KOLLAM: The CPM district secretariat met in the precedence of politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan has confirmed the candidature of film star Mukesh in Kollam.
Mr. Vijayan warned members who revolted against the party’s decision of strict action saying it was the party's decision not to field P.K. Gurudasan, and the party could not change it as it would affect its reputation.
Monday's was the fifth meeting of the district secretariat over the actor’s candidature after the party faced criticism for choosing him over the sitting legislator. It also decided to field former deputy mayor M. Naushad in Eravipuram.
Initially, district committee had proposed state committee member K. Varadarajan for Kollam. Later, the name of R.S. Babu, a journalist with the party mouthpiece Deshabhimani, came up which was also opposed.
Then the district committee suggested Mr Gurudasan, which the state secretariat rejected. Mukesh will contest as an independent backed by the Left.
JSS(R), not BDJS in Kollam
The NDA, meanwhile, decided to give the Kollam seat to JSS (R) instead of BDJS. Former SN College principal Prof. K. Sasikumar will be the candidate here.
The JSS (R) will also field Sudhakaran Pallath in Vypeen and Rajan Babu in Aroor, other two seats allotted to the party by the NDA.The BDJS was exchanging Vypin for Udumbanchola. “The relevance of contesting in this elections is the strengthening of the third front including BDJS and the BJP as a substitute to the other two” Mr Babu said.
