AAP, Twenty20 announce Ernakulam candidates

Kochi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday announced the candidates for contesting from six constituencies in Ernakulam in the upcoming assembly elections. Party leaders said after their successful governance in Delhi and Punjab, AAP aimed to initiate political change in Kerala too. The party is fielding popular faces from various sections of society with the aim of corruption-free governance and development of people's welfare, they said.They have identified candidates for 43 constituencies, and the names will be announced in the next two days.Among the candidates named are Moses H M (Ernakulam), Jose Chiramel (Angamaly), Eldho Abraham (Piravom), Jose George (Thrikkakara), Shamsu T K (Kalamassery), Hakkikat Hameed (Aluva) and Noushad Randarkara (Muvattupuzha).Meanwhile, Twenty20 President Sabu M Jacob announced two more candidates at a function in Kochi on Wednesday. Dancer, actress and entrepreneur Anitha Thomas is the Twenty20 NDA candidate in Vypeen constituency. Patron of Cochin College Alumni Association and a social activist, Kochi-native Thomas was a candidate in Ravipuram division of Kochi corporation in the last local body elections. This is her maiden election to the assembly. Jacob said Vypeen is one of NDA's guaranteed constituencies.Senior lawyer and architect of Mullaperiyar protection committee, Roy A Varikkatt will be Twenty20 NDA candidate from Thodupuzha. Varikkatt's public work began when he was elected union chairman of Thodupuzha Newman College during his second-year degree course. He has been active in Thodupuzha since 1980.