N M R Rasaq likely to contest as LDF candidate in Palakkad

PALAKKAD: Hotel industrialist N M R Rasaq is likely to contest as an independent candidate of the LDF in the Palakkad assembly elections. The decision was taken at the Palakkad district secretariat meeting held here today. CPM leaders held discussions with Rasaq at the district committee office. The announcement is likely to be made tomorrow.

Rasaq told media that Palakkad is a fertile ground for the Left and that he will be an MLA within reach. Rasaq, who has been working in the hotel industry for the past sixteen years, is the state general secretary of the hotel’s association. The LDF hopes that his popularity, which is active in public activities, will benefit in the elections.

The CPM has decided to field a candidate who is able to get the maximum votes and not to contest on the party symbol. The district committee initially suggested P Sarin's name. Sarin informed the state leadership that he was not interested in contesting from Palakkad, which has a low chance of winning. He later approached with the request to field three other industrialists from the city as independent candidates, but the response was not in favour of him.