Alappuzha: Expelled Congress leader Sobhana George, the three-time Chengannur legislator, has jumped on the Left Democratic Front bandwagon this time. She attended the LDF's convention inaugurated by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the poll-bound Assembly constituency Tuesday. In 2016, she contested as an independent and cornered 3,966 votes contributing to sitting Congress legislator P.C. Vishunath’s defeat.
Ms George said she would never become a CPM member. “I would campaign for LDF candidate Saji Cherian,” she said. CPM state chief Kodiyeri Balakrishnan along with Mr Cheriyan had gone to her home seeking her support. An Orthodox Christian who started her political career with Kerala Congress (Mani), she had always enjoyed the support of the community.
She rebelled after Congress denied her the seat. She had defeated K. K. Ramachandran Nair, whose death necessitated the by-poll, in 2001 by 1465 votes. She alleged that Mr Vishnunath was an outsider and was unable to bring development. At a condolence meeting over Mr Nair's death in Chengannur in January, Mr Cherian in her presence appreciated her role in Mr Nair's victory.
