JDS drops Thettayil, Moonjely gets Angamaly

Thiruvananthapuram: Janata Dal (Secular) has denied a party ticket to sitting Angamaly MLA Jose Thettayil, but decided to field Benny Moonjely in the assembly segment.

With JDS announcing its candidates on Tuesday, the LDF's line-up for the assembly election has been finalized.

The party's three other sitting MLAs-C K Nanu, Mathew T Thomas and Jameela Prakasam-will be contesting from their home constituencies, Vadakara, Thiruvalla and Kovalam, respectively.

Former MLA K Krishnankutty will be contesting from Chittoor.

JDS sources said Thettayil was denied a ticket following local-level protests against him. The district committee had earlier shortlisted three names, instead of zeroing-in on one, for the seat.

Though the JDS state committee was in favour of Thettayil, the national leadership vetoed it.

The party did not cite any reason for dropping the sitting MLA, but it was believed that a complaint of sexual harassment against him made three years ago had gone against Thettayil.

Though no case was registered against Thettayil, the CPM, too, was not in favour of him.

National president H D Deve Gowda approved the final list of candidates at a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday.