KOZHIKODE: To retain the reign they have been enjoying for the last three decades in the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation, the CPM is weighing its hopes on veterans.
It is learnt that the party will field former mayors Thottathil Raveendran and M.M Padmavathi in the election. Former Beypore MLA V.K. C Mammed Koya will also contest the polls.
Former Mayor T.P Dasan’s wife T.V Lalitha Prabha will contest from the Thiruthiyad ward.
Though not considered in the list initially,Health Standing Committee Chairperson Janamma Kunjunnii will be in the electoral ring from Civil Station ward reserved for SC Women.
However it is unlikely that a declaration will be made of the name of the Mayor Candidate before the election.
The Party has also decided not to field nearly 90 percent of the councillors in the upcoming civic polls.
Prominent councillors like Adv O.M Bharadwaj (Thiruthiyad), T Sujan (Thoppayil), C.P Musafar Ahammed (Payyanakkal) and V Sudheer (Karuvissery) will not be contesting following the conversion of wards into the reservation category. Some of them also expressed their wish not to contest.
Kozhikode North MLA A Pradeep Kumar’s name was actively in the news for the Mayor’s post, however he is not likely to contest.
Present Mayor Prof A.K Premajam will also not contest the election. Since the CPM has decided not to field those who were involved in vigilance cases, Deputy Mayor Prof P.T Abdul Latheef would also stay away from the polls, say sources in the Party.
