Annie Raja in Wayanad, Pannyan in capital city, Former minister to face Suresh Gopi; CPI discusses candidates for LS polls

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPI on Sunday released the list of candidates probable to contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Kerala. According to reports, Annie Raja is a favourite to contest in Wayanad where Rahul Gandhi’s candidacy looks more certain. Former member of Lok Sabha Pannyan Raveendran is considered for the Thiruvananthapuram constituency.

In the by-elections held after the death of CPI leader PK Vasudevan Nair in 2005, Pannyan Raveendran won victoriously from the Thiruvananthapuram seat defeating congress honcho V. S. Sivakumar. This time too, Shashi Tharoor is expected to be the congress candidate for the fourth straight time. BJP earlier made moves to bring popular national leaders to contest from the Thiruvananthapuram seat, but later found a better alternative in ISRO chief S Somanath. However, no confirmation has been made regarding BJP candidate selection for the capital city.

Meanwhile, the CPI may field former minister V S Sunilkumar against Suresh Gopi in the Thrissur constituency, where the BJP is on the mission of building a new bastion. AIYF leader C A Arunkumar’s name was recommended for the Mavelikara seat. The seat agreement was reached at the CPI national leadership meeting held in Hyderabad. It is reported that the state council will take a final decision on the matter.