THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM State secretariat has put its seal on the candidatures of popular cine actors Mukesh in Kollam and KPAC Lalitha in Wadakkancherry. Media person Veena George has been finalised for Aranmula in Pathanamthitta.
But the shocker has been the CPM secretariat decision not to field P C George, till recently the Government chief whip, in Poonjar. The secretariat reckons that local protests against nominations for film actors and the media person will die down once the poll battle is joined. The party would soon convene district meetings to convince local leaders of the logic behind the controversial decisions.
The CPM secretariat meeting held here on Sunday decided not to make changes in the list of candidates under local pressure. The meeting also decided to take disciplinary action against party members who have taken part in the poster war and demonstrations organised in various parts of the state against the candidates shortlisted.
Some 12 party members had protested in Ommalloor against the candidature of TV anchor Veena George from Aranmula. They had raised slogans against the district leadership and declared support to Kerala Karshaka Sangha state vice-president and former Omallur panchayat president Omallur Sankaran, who is also a secretariat member of the party.
Incidentally, Mr Sankaran had also submitted a complaint against dragging his name in the controversy. The Pathanamthitta district secretariat has already recommended action against those who took part in the protest. There were also protests against actors Mukesh in Kollam and KPAC Lalitha in Wadakkancherry. The secretariat will meet again on March 26 to decide on constituencies where there are disputes.
The meeting approved the candidature of Kozhikode Mayor V.K.C. Mammad Koya in Beypore and sitting MLA C. Krishnan in Payyannur. Earlier, there were demonstrations demanding to filed Mr P. Rajiv in Thrippunithura. Posters have also come up in Konni against Mr R. Sanal Kumar and Rajani Parakkadavu in Kayamkulam. Rajani was included in the list in place of sitting MLA C.K. Sadashivan.
