AA Rahim to be new CPM Thiruvananthapuram District Secretary; V Joy to contest from Varkala again

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Communist Party of India (Marxist) appointed AA Rahim, MP, as the party's Thiruvananthapuram district secretary. The decision to make Rahim the district secretary came after the party decided to field current district secretary V Joy from Varkala in the upcoming assembly elections. The decision to give Rahim temporary charge was taken at the district secretariat meeting held today in the presence of state secretary MV Govindan. An official announcement in this regard will be made at the district committee meeting to be held on March 6.

The party had decided to give another chance to all the sitting CPM MLAs in the district. The state secretariat meeting had approved this. However, there remained uncertainty only about Joy's candidature. The district committee's assessment said it would only take Joy to retain the constituency amid fighting strong anti-incumbency.

A win in Thiruvananthapuram district is vital if the party wants to register a hat-trick win in the assembly elections. The state secretariat assigned Joy in Varkala, considering the possibility of victory. Taking into account Joy’s popularity and a good track record, the leadership hopes for nothing short of a victory. If the LDF gets a third term, V Joy will certainly be made a minister.

There were reports that Vamanapuram MLA DK Murali might be given the post of district secretary if Joy contests. Many raised apprehension that Vamanapuram might end up with UDf in Murali's absence. This consensus led to the leadership zeroing in on Rahim for the post.