Thiruvananthapuram: CPM took the lead in announcing candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan announced the names of 16 candidates including two party-supported independents, after getting approval from politburo. The CPI had announced its four candidates on Friday. Four MLAs, all sitting MPs barring P. Karunakaran, district secretaries of Kannur and Kottayam and two women candidates figure in the CPM list.
“We will begin the election campaign from today. Lok Sabha, Assembly and booth committees will be constituted by March 20. These committees will meet every voter in each constituency,” said Kodiyeri Balakrishan.
On the decision of fielding MLAs, the CPM state secretary said that it indicated the party’s confidence. “This is not the first time that sitting MLAs are contesting Lok Sabha polls. Even UDF had four MLAs in 2009,” he said while replying to a question on imposing byelections.
When asked why the party failed to give more seats to women, the CPM leader said P. K. Sreemathy and Veena George have been included considering winability factor. “We are confident of wining both the seats,” he said.
Kodiyeri said the Lok Sabha polls are crucial for the Left. The strength of Left MPs has to be increased in Parliament. This will help in defeating the BJP and installing a secular government at the Centre. You may recollect in 2004 when the Left got over 60 MPs, the BJP government was voted out and in Kerala the Congress drew a blank.
When asked whether the tie up with Congress in West Bengal would affect party's prospects in Kerala, he said, “In 2004 we were part of the DMK led alliance which also had Congress. In West Bengal we have decided not to field candidates in the six sitting seats of Congress and requested them to do so in our two sitting seats. CPM is trying to maximize the pooling of anti-BJP votes," he said.
On P V Anwar’s candidature from Ponnani, the CPM leader said the allegations against the MLA were baseless. “We have examined the allegations. It will not affect the electoral prospects,” he claimed.
He said P. Jayarajan was a victim of political violence. “He has not been convicted in any case. You cannot keep people out just because they are accused in a case. In that situation the Congress will not find any candidates to contest,” he said.
Kodiyeri said Kasargod MP P. Karunakaran who was left out this time, is required for organisational responsibilities.
The CPM leader said Kerala would witness a direct fight between LDF and UDF this time and the BJP had no chance.
The CPM list of candidates; Kasargod - K. P. Satheesh Chandran, Kannur - P. K. Sreemathy, Vadakara - P. Jayarajan, Kozhikode - A. Pradeep Kumar, Malappuram - V. P. Sanu, Alathur - Dr P. K. Biju, Palakkad - M. B. Rajesh, Chalakudy – Innocent, Ernakulam - P. Rajeev , Kottayam - V. N. Vasavan, Alappuzha - A. M. Arif, Pathanmthitta - Veena George, Kollam - K. N. Balagopal, Attingal - Dr A. Sampath. Two indepdendents supported by CPM - Idukki - Joice George and Ponnani - P. V. Anwar.
