Is it a sidelining? K K Shailaja stakes claim to Mattannur, expresses dissatisfaction 

KANNUR: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and central committee member and former health minister K K Shailaja are included in the CPM’s list from Kannur, which is aiming for a hat-trick term in power. Reports say K K Shailaja may be shifted from Mattannur and considered for another constituency. However, she has reportedly taken the stand that she will not contest if it is not from Mattannur. It is heard that she has informed the state leadership her dissatisfaction over the change of constituency.

Some leaders are of the stand that Shailaja need not contest again since she has already contested five times. If not Mattannur, she is likely to be considered for Taliparambu or Peravoor. At the district secretariat, directions were raised to consider DYFI state secretary V K Sanoj or district secretariat member P Purushothaman for Mattannur.

Apart from Shailaja, the names of M V Jayarajan and district secretariat member N Sukanya are being considered for Taliparambu. Sukanya is wife of former MLA James Mathew. There are also reports of support for P K Shyamala, wife of M V Govindan and former chairperson of Anthoor Municipality. Meantime, M V Govindan is in favor of fielding M V Nikesh Kumar in Taliparambu.

There is also uncertainty over Speaker A N Shamseer contesting this time. Then district leaders have proposed the names of district secretariat member Karayi Rajan and M V Jayarajan for Thalassery. In Payyannur, T I Madhusoodanan is certain to get a second term. The view is that replacing him would be equivalent to admitting the allegations against him, including the alleged misuse of the martyr’s fund.

The district secretariat has not considered central committee member E P Jayarajan and state committee members P Jayarajan and P Sasi. K V Sumeesh will contest from Azhikode, M Vijin from Kalyasseri, and CPM area secretary Zakir Hussain from Peravoor. In Kannur and Koothuparambu, the constituent allies will contest.