CPM Thiruvananthapuram District Committee Recommends All 10 Sitting MLAs for Assembly Elections
In a significant political development, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM's Thiruvananthapuram district committee has decided to recommend to the state leadership that all 10 sitting MLAs from the district be fielded in the upcoming assembly elections. This move signals a relaxation of the party's previously strict two-term norm for legislators.
District Secretariat Meeting and Key Decisions
The decision was finalized during a district secretariat meeting held on Wednesday, which was attended by party state secretary M V Govindan. The meeting focused on electoral strategy and candidate selection for the Thiruvananthapuram district, which comprises 14 assembly seats.
Notably, the state leadership has expressed reservations about the candidacy of party district secretary V S Joy in Varkala, his current constituency. However, due to the absence of a strong alternative candidate in Varkala at this time, the district committee has opted to recommend all sitting MLAs, including Joy, for re-election.
Candidate Considerations and Health Issues
Earlier discussions within the party had centered on finding a replacement for V Sivankutty in the Nemom constituency, primarily due to health concerns. Sivankutty had notably wrested the Nemom seat from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2021 assembly election.
Despite these initial talks, the district leadership is now strongly considering only Sivankutty for the Nemom ticket, acknowledging his electoral success and local influence. If V S Joy does contest from Varkala, the party plans to appoint an interim district secretary to manage organizational duties during the election period.
Previous Election Performance and Seat Dynamics
In the previous assembly election, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) secured an impressive 13 out of the 14 seats in Thiruvananthapuram district. The United Democratic Front (UDF) managed to win only the Kovalam seat.
Within the LDF, the CPM won 10 seats, while the Communist Party of India (CPI) captured Nedumangad and Chirayinkeezhu. The Janadhipathya Kerala Congress (Antony Raju) won the Thiruvananthapuram seat. However, an adverse court judgment against Antony Raju in an evidence-tampering case has cast uncertainty over his political future.
CPM leaders have intensified their demand to claim the Thiruvananthapuram seat, with the district committee formally placing this request before the state committee. Additionally, leaders have advocated for the party to take over the Kovalam constituency, which was contested by Janata Dal in the last election.
Shift in Party Strategy and Electoral Focus
Historically, CPM enforced a policy restricting MLAs to two consecutive terms, leading to the denial of seats to several senior leaders in past assembly elections. The current recommendation to field all sitting MLAs represents a notable departure from this approach.
CPM is now prioritizing the victory prospects of candidates as it aims to retain power at any cost in the upcoming elections. This strategic shift underscores the party's focus on electoral success and stability in candidate selection, moving away from strict term limitations to maximize winning chances in Thiruvananthapuram district.
