LDF announces 124 candidates

Thiruvananthapuram: The LDF announced candidates for 124 of the 140 constituencies in the State on Thursday for the Assembly elections.

Opposition Leader in the Assembly V. S. Achuthanandan, polit bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan, Malayalam film actor Mukesh and media personalities M. V. Nikesh Kumar, Veena George and Sebastian Paul are among the candidates. Mr. Achuthanandan is to contest from Malampuzha and Mr. Vijayan from Dharmadom.  Mr. Nikesh Kumar, Ms. George and Mr. Paul will contest from Azhikode, Aranmula and Thirkkakara respectively.

LDF convenor Vaikom Viswam, who released the list, said that the candidates for 16 seats including that of Front constituents Janata Dal (S) and NCP would be announced in a few days.

The CPI (M) announced candidates for 90 out of 92 seats it is contesting. (Candidates for Thoudupuzha and Kothamangalam remain to be announced).  They include party Central Committee member E. P. Jayarajan (Matanoor), Thomas Isaac (Alappuzha), A. K. Balan (Tharoor) and K. K. Shailaja (Koothuparambu).

CPI, the second largest partner of LDF, announced candidates for 25 seats out of 27 seats allocated to it. They include legislative party leader C. Divakaran, Geetha Gopi (Nattika) and E. S. Bijimol (Peerumedu). The list also has a number of debutantes.

Janadhipatya Kerala Congress, which was allocated four seats, will field K. Francis George from Idukki, Antony Raju from Thiruvananthapuram, K. C. Joseph from Changanassery and P. C. Joseph from Poonjar.

Other LDF constituents have announced nine candidates. Kadannappally Ramachandran (Congress-S) will contest from Kannur, Scaria Thomas (Kerala Congress-Scaria) from Kaduthuruthy, A. P. Abdul Wahab (INL) from Kozhikode South), Kovoor Kunjumon (RSP-Leninist) from Kunnathur and K. B. Ganesh Kumar (Kerala Congress-B) from Pathanapuram.

The CPI (M) list includes eight independent candidates, mostly in Malappuram district, including sitting members K. T. Jaleel (Thavanoor) and P. T. A. Rahim (Kunnamangalam). The others are K. P. Beerankutty (Kondotty), P. V. Anwar (Nilambur), V. Abdurahiman (Tanur), P. Abdul Gafoor (Tirur), Nikesh Kumar (Azhikode) and Karat Abdul Razakh (Koduvally.

The CPI (M) and CPI are fielding 12 and four women respectively. K. K. Shailaja (Koothuparamba), J. Mercykutty Amma (Kundara), K. K. Lathika (Kuttiyadi), T. N. Seema (Vattiyoorkavu), Aysha Potti (Kottarakkara), K. P. Sumathi (Malappuram), Subaida Isahaq (Thrithala), Mary Thomas (Vadakkancheri), Rugmini Subramaian (Sultan Batheri), Shiji Sivaji (Kunnathunadu) U. Pratibha Hari (Kayamkulam) and Veena George are the women candidates of CPI (M).  Besides Ms. Bijimol and Ms. Gopi; the CPI is fielding Sarada Mohan (daughter of former Chief Minister P. K. Vasudevan Nair) and C. K. Asa.

Full list of CPI-M and CPI candidates