Kerala: Congress gets shot in the arm, CPI adopts three-term policy

With Major Ravi's support to Ramesh Chennithala’s Aishwarya Kerala Yatra and rebel NCP MLA Mani C. Kappan joining Congress-led front, the party is set to get a shot in the arm. CPI has implemented a three-term policy and stated that it won't give chance to leaders who have already contested thrice

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala’s Aishwarya Kerala Yatra, which began from Kasaragod heading towards Thiruvananthapuram, received a huge welcome in Ernakulam district on Friday. The Police Association office-bearers extended a warm welcome to Chennithala and honoured him with a 'Ponnada' (golden shawl).

The joining of Malayalam director Major Ravi, who always showed political affinity towards BJP, in Thripoonithara was unexpected. Addressing the gathering, Major Ravi said that the UDF Government should come to power in Kerala.

The participation of Major Ravi, in the UDF’s Kerala tour, is expected to have a revitalising effect on the Congress and the UDF.

With NCP leader Mani C Kappan unwilling to give up Pala seat and Congress’s Jose K Mani continuously demanding the seat, the seat continues to be a bone of contention within the NCP camp. NCP is an ally of LDF. The contention with regard to Pala seat has become crucial to the future of NCP as a political party in Kerala.

Mani C Kappan announced his decision to part ways with the CPI(M)-led alliance and join the Congress-led front. Kappan who won the Pala seat as an LDF candidate in the bypoll held in 2019, claimed support of seven district presidents and nine state office-bearers of the NCP.

However, the only NCP leader A K Saseendran is still with LDF Government.

However, Mani C Kappan is adamant about his decision and is prepared to leave the Left Front if he is not allotted the Pala seat. M M Mani, CPM leader and Minister had stated that Kappan is not a leader who enjoys people’s support and claimed that Kappan won Pala due to LDF workers' support.

NCP has hinted that Kappan is geared up to join the Aishwarya Kerala Yatra at Pala.

CPI implements three-term policy

In another significant on Friday, CPI has begun discussions with LDF on seat allocations for the elections. According to reports, CPI has decided not to give another chance to those who have contested three times. In that case, three CPI Ministers - P Thilothaman, V S Sunil Kumar, and K Raju- will not be able to contest in the elections.

Likewise, senior leaders and present legislators C Divakaran and Mullakkara Rathnakaran may have to stay away from Parliamentary elections.

Peerumedu MLA E S Bijimol is also on the list of leaders who have contested thrice. The decision on fielding former Ministers K E Ismail, K P Rajendran, CPI State Assistant Secretary K Prakash Babu will be taken based on the reports from the respective district committees.

Reports suggest that CPI leader E Chandrashekharan would be contesting this time. CPI State Secretary Kanam Rajendran said that the party has decided to field freshers and youngsters.

Unlike CPI, Congress High Command has directed the state leaders to field all present legislators.

LDF begins elections campaigns

The ruling party LDF kicked-off rallies and election campaigns for the upcoming state elections and it is expected that CPM State Secretary A Vijayaraghavan will also spearhead a rally from Saturday.

Vijayaraghavan’s rally will start from Kasaragod to Thrissur. The rally from Ernakulam to Thiruvananthapuram will be led by CPM leader and Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Vishwam.