THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the stakes high in the Lok Sabha elections, the CPM and the CPI are banking heavily on sitting MLAs to wrest UDF constituencies.
A popular leader like A. Pradeepkumar is considered best bet to take on M.K. Raghavan, the two-time MP from Kozhikode. Cherthala MLA A.M. Arif, who has performed well as legislator, is taking on a formidable leader K.C. Venugopal, now AICC general secretary and considered a confidant of Congres president Rahul Gandhi.
The CPM is fielding Veena George in Pathanamthitta which was the epicenter of Sabarimala agitation. The Left camp believes that since a chunk of votes from the UDF are likely to go to the BJP which adopted an aggressive position on Sabarimala issue, a Christian candidate could be a game changer. The BJP, too, is considering fielding Union minister and Rajya Sabha member Alphons Kannanthanam from the constituency.
The CPI is banking on the electoral experience of Mr C. Divakaran to give Mr Tharoor and former BJP state president Kummanam Rajashekharan a run for their money in Thiruvananthapruam constituency. In Mavelikkara it has chosen a popular legislator Chittayam Gopakumar to end KPCC voce-president Kodikunnil Suresh's victory run.
On the criticism against MLAs being fielded for Parliament elections, Mr Arif said, "The UDF and the BJP have no moral right to criticise us. Mr Venugopal, Prof. K.V. Thomas and Mr P.K. Kunhalikutty were MLAs when they got elected to parliament. There's no rule that once an MLA always an MLA."
He reminded that Alappuzha district had four ministers in the UPA government but there was no benefit worth the name for te people. "This is my third term as legislator. From 4000 in 2006, my lead has increased to over 38,000 votes in 2016. This proves that my work has been recognised by the people," he said.
Mr Divakaran said fielding legislators is a non-issue. "People are not interested in such issues. Let alone MLAs you now have a governor resigning and joining the electoral fray," he said referring to Mr Rajashekharan.
The CPI leader said 2019 is a political election. "The Modi government has cheated people. Issues like Rafale corruption, tye unmet promise of 2 crore jobs a year, demonetization and GST impact will be discussed in the elections," he said.
On Dr Tharoor, Mr Divakaran said the local MP remained silent when a navaratana company like Hindustan Latex was privatised and now Thiruvananthapuram international airport has been sold out to the Adani group.
Mr Divakaran said he was confident of winning the elections. "I have spent 50 years in public life in Thiruvananthaupram. I was born and brought up here. People know me and my work," he summed up.
