Thiruvananthapuram: While CPI(M) leaders with 2 stints or more in Assembly are stepping aside to make room, Congress list is galore with leaders having 50-year tenure behind them. Several faces spanning decades have monopolised seats, cutting off any space possible for new entrants. Some among these continue to contest, despite being consistent losers at Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. “Leaders’ monopoly” of seats is a raging topic in the ongoing internal unrest.
Former Chief Minister Oomen Chandy is fighting Assembly polls the 12th time. Nobody has been elected as MLA in his constituency of Puthupally. Ramesh Chennithala is close on heels, contesting for the 5th time for Assembly. During this period he also fought Lok Sabha polls 5 times. Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will contest polls tagged by his 30-year-old history as MLA and K. Babu, who has been MLA from 1991 to 2016, is preparing to contest for the seventh time. Although there is stiff resistance in the constituency on his candidacy, Oomen Chandy’s influence held up to see Babu through.
Irikkur constituency was erstwhile fortress of KC Thomas - the lone sitting MLA deprived of his seat. A 3-time MLA and one-time MP, P. C. Thomas, will replace him this time. K Muraleedharan, who resigned his MLA post to contest MP elections, would be once again fighting Assembly polls, his 12th in the race. . He has contested Assembly elections 7 times and Lok Sabha four times. Muraleedharan resigned post as KPCC president in 2004 and become Deputy Electricity Minister in Antony cabinet. He later fought the byelections from Vadakanchery becoming Kerala’s sole minster to taste defeat in bypolls. Muraleedharan’s sister Padmaja Venugopal too will run for elections this time.
Incidentally, the ardent crusaders for new faces are not free of their love for seats. P Satheeshan will stand in Paravur and AP Anil Kumar will contest from Vandoor for the fifth time. Both have been MLA for 20 years now.
Prominence For Women Ensured, Maintains Mullappally
Since taking office as KPCC president, I have always ensured that women get the importance they deserve, said KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran. 25,000 women were appointed as Youth Vice Presidents. 15 women candidates were considered during the final candidates list this time. Latika Subhash’s case is unfortunate. I had wished a seat for her. Everybody has seen how Ettumanoor seat allocation hit roadblock. If Forward Block gives way, Congress would be able to install a formidable candidate in Dharmadam, said Mullappally.
