Legal trouble for Antony Raju: CPM may take over Thiruvananthapuram seat

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With MLA Antony Raju facing legal proceedings, the CPM is likely to take over the Thiruvananthapuram Assembly seat. The Left Democratic Front had allotted one seat to Antony Raju’s party, the Janadhipathya Kerala Congress. As the LDF is aiming for a second consecutive term in power, every seat is crucial, and the winning chances of candidates will be closely considered. It is also important to consider whether Antony Raju will be willing to field another candidate in his place. There is also a possibility that he may temporarily give up the seat to the CPM.

V.S. Sivakumar, who was the UDF candidate from this constituency in the last election, is now active in the area. There are indications that the UDF may allot the Thiruvananthapuram seat to its ally CMP. Sivakumar’s move is seen as a response to this possibility. The CPM’s final decision is expected to depend on the stand taken by the Janadhipathya Kerala Congress. At present, all 13 Assembly constituencies in the district, except Kovalam, are held by the Left.

Defeated Hassan to enter Assembly
In 1996, Antony Raju first entered the Assembly by contesting as a Kerala Congress (Joseph) candidate and defeating Congress leader M.M. Hassan by 6,894 votes. Later, in 2021, he defeated sitting MLA V.S. Sivakumar by a margin of 7,089 votes to become an MLA and a minister.