Thiruvananthapuram: The ruling Left democratic Front got the first mover advantage in the byelections in the five assembly constituencies by officially announcing the candidates on Friday. The constituencies will go to polls on October 21.
Barring Manjeshwaram, there was no change in the list of candidates finalised by the district leaderships on Wednesday: Thiruvananthapuram mayor V.K. Prasanth (Vattiyoorkavu), DYFI leaders K.U. Jinesh Kumar (Konni) , Manu C. Pulickal (Aroor) independent candidate Manu Roy (Ernakulam).
However, the CPM which had earlier decided to field former MLA C.H. Kunjambu from Manjeshwaram, chose Shankar Rai owing to the difference of opinion cropped in the district secretariat over the choice of candidate.
A section of leaders wanted a person from linguistic minority to contest the bypoll. The party opted for Mr Rai respecting the sentiments of the party workers and the popular demand for linguistic minority candidate.
The CPM, which took a big gamble with fielding young faces for the bypoll, started electioneering in Vattiyoorkav constituency with a road show by its candidate Mr Prasanth, who is also the mayor of the capital city.
Of the five seat, the LDF had one only Aroor in the last assembly elections.
