Congress's candidate list: Move to restrict Ezhava representation to one seat; Shashi Tharoor to contest Nemom?

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With BJP state president Rajiv Chandrasekhar deciding to contest the assembly elections in Nemom, the Congress is moving to field MP Shashi Tharoor and capture the constituency. The approximate form of the candidate consideration list for the district has been prepared. The final decision on Tharoor will be taken by the national leadership. There is no indication that the Ezhava community, a crucial vote bank in the district, will get due consideration in the list. The move is to restrict the community to one seat. In most constituencies, the first names are from other communities.

Apart from Tharoor, the names of K. Muraleedharan, G.V. Hari and Vaishna Suresh are also in the list for Nemom. K. Muraleedharan is a possibility in Vattiyoorkavu. There are also K.S. Sabarinathan and Veena S. Nair.

V.S. Sivakumar, K.S. Sabarinathan, and Sarath Chandraprasad are under consideration in Thiruvananthapuram constituency. J.S. Akhil is a possibility in Kazhakoottam. M.A. Wahid, Dr. S.S. Lal are also on the list.

V.S. Sivakumar and Neyyattinkara Sanal in Parasal; N. Sakthan, Frieda Simon, and Vinodsen in Neyyattinkara, are under consideration.

Malayinkeezhu Venugopal, M.R. Baiju, M.Manikanthan, R.V. Rajesh are the likely candidates in Kattakada, and M.M. Hassan is the likely candidate in Aruvikkara. M.R. Baiju's name is also in the list.

B.R.M. Shafeer is the first choice for Nedumangad. Palode Ravi is also on the list.

Varkala Kahar and Dr. S.S. Lal are also under consideration in Varkala, while M. Vincent and Freeda Simon are possible in Kovalam. The names of Palode Ravi, Ramani P. Nair, T. Sarath Chandraprasad are being heard in Vamanapuram.

CMP has also made a demand for C.P. John in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency.

While Nair, Christian and minority communities were given great importance, Ezhava representation was limited to the names in many seats. There is concern within the party that the neglect of the Ezhava community will negatively affect the Congress's chances of victory in the district.