CPM bets big on youth power

Thiruvananthapuram: Betting big on the power of youth, the CPM has completed preliminary round of candidate selection for forthcoming assembly bypolls. Young leaders were suggested in four of the five seats by district secretariats and assembly constituency committees concerned on Wednesday.

Thiruvananthapuram mayor V K Prasanth (Vattiyoorkavu), DYFI state vice-president K U Janeesh Kumar (Konni), DYFI state vice-president Manu C Pulickal (Aroor), high court lawyer and former SFI activist Manu Roy (Ernakulam) and ex-MLA C H Kunjambu (Manjeswaram) are the candidates proposed by the district panels concerned. The names will be debated by the CPM state secretariat on Friday, after which official announcement is expected.

Except Kunjambu who had represented Manjeswaram during 2006-11, all others are new faces in assembly poll. As four out of the five seats that go for poll are not sitting seats, the CPM decided to make a strong attempt by fielding young leaders having unblemished image.

While Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Kasaragod district secretariats proposed their nominees unanimously, there was a strong dissent over the selection of Janeesh Kumar in Pathanamthitta district secretariat. It is learnt that district secretary K P Udayabhanu expressed strong displeasure over Janeesh’s candidate. He said Janeesh’s winnability is doubtful, but, majority of secretariat members supported Janeesh. Udayabhanu was also considered for the seat but district secretariat opted Janeesh as first choice following the suggestion from the state secretariat.

The Thiruvananthapuram district secretariat discussed the names of V K Prasanth and district panchayat president V K Madhu before zeroing in on Prasanth. The constituency committee that met in the evening also endorsed Prasanth’s name. “The political weather is totally favourable for the Left. Whoever is the Left candidate, he will win from Vattiyoorkavu,” Prasanth told reporters.

In Alappuzha, the district secretariat held in the presence of central committee member M V Govindan discussed the names of Manu and C B Chandrababu. Finally, the panel decided to recommend Manu C Pulikkal to the state secretariat. Manu, who is the CPM district secretariat member, was a former district panchayat member. He also functioned as SFI district president and secretary, DYFI district secretary and Kerala University syndicate member.

The Kasaragod district secretariat meeting proposed C H Kunjambu after considering him and district committee member Jayananda. Kunjambu’s name was finalised, considering the factor that there was unrest among the UDF camp over the candidate selection and Kunjambu would be able to win votes from the other camp.

In Ernakulam, the CPM opted for an independent candidate who can create inroads into the Latin Catholic vote bank. Manu Roy was a former SFI activist and a popular face in the city’s circles. He is the son of veteran journalist K M Roy and the widespread contacts of Roy’s family would brighten Manu’s prospects, the leadership concluded.

(With inputs from Alappuzha and Kannur)


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