Will Pathanamthitta shock? Strong candidates to enter fray

PATHANAMTHITTA: All five assembly constituencies in Pathanamthitta district are currently with the LDF. However, the UDF's lead in all five local body elections has shocked the Left Front. The BJP, which has strong roots in Aranmula and Konni constituencies, is making its moves with the hope of victory.

In Pathanamthitta, which includes Sabarimala, the gold robbery case is expected to be a major topic of discussion in the assembly elections, just as it was in the local body elections. The imprisonment of CPM district committee member A Padmakumar in a gold robbery case is a setback for the CPM. The UDF is trying to repeat the upper hand it gained in the local body in the assembly as well.

Minister Veena George will be the LDF candidate again in Aranmula. In the constituency where Orthodox Sabha and Nair votes are crucial, KPCC general secretaries P Mohanraj, Pazhakulam Madhu and Youth Congress leader Abin Varkey are under consideration. Kummanam Rajasekharan is a possibility in BJP. The name of former block panchayat member and organic farmer Ajayakumar Valluzhathil is being heard as well.

CPM centres confirm that K.U. Janeesh Kumar MLA will be the candidate in Konni. It is heard that UDF convener Adoor Prakash MP will be the Congress candidate. If not, DCC President Prof. Satish Kochuparambil will be the candidate. BDJS is asking for a seat in NDA. If it is given, state vice president K. Padmakumar is a possibility.

In Adoor, the CPI's consideration list includes Pandalam Municipality Vice Chairman K Manikuttan and AIYF leader Adv CA Arun, who is a native of Alappuzha. Deputy Speaker Chittayam Gopakumar, who has completed three terms, may be considered for the post of MLA.

In Congress, Pandalam Sudhakaran is the main consideration. Former MP Ramya Haridas and local leader Babu Divakaran are also on the list. In Thiruvalla, sitting MLA Mathew T. Thomas of the Janata Dal (S) is likely to contest again. In UDF, Kerala Congress (Joseph)'s Joseph M. Puthussery is a possibility. The BJP may consider state general secretary Anoop Antony in a constituency where the party has a significant influence.

Kerala Congress (M) will again consider Pramod Narayanan MLA in Ranni. KPCC member Adv. K. Jayavarma is preferred in the Congress. KPCC General Secretary Rinku Cherian's name is also in the running. BJP is considering District Secretary Shine G. Kurup.

2021 Assembly Election Results

Constituency, MLA, Majority

Aranmula: Veena George, LDF, 19003

Konni: K.U. Janeesh Kumar, LDF, 8508

Adoor: Chittayam Gopakumar, LDF, 2919

Ranni: Pramod Narayanan, LDF, 1285

Thiruvalla: Mathew T. Thomas, LDF, 11421