KANNUR: Congress leaders in Malabar region is getting ready to contest in the upcoming election. In the last election, UDF won five seats out of seven constituencies spread across 5 districts. Wayanad is UDF’s forte. The party is in search for new candidates here due to the demise of MI Shanavas and as KPCC President Mullappally Ramachandran has declared that he won’t contest.

The Congress have called for a seminar on January 20 in Kannur to discuss about election preparations in the Malabar region.

Kannur

Most of the leaders want KPCC working president K. Sudhakaran to contest here. In the last Lok sabha election Sudhakaran lost to P.K. Sreemathi from CPM for 6,566 votes. Other names under consideration are Amritha Radhakrishnan, daughter of former minister N. Ramakrishnan, INTUC national secretary K. Surendran, DCC president Satheesan Pacheni and former MP AP Abdulla Kutty.

Kasaragod

In the last Parliament election, Congress candidate T. Siddique lost to CPM’s P. Karunakaran for 6,921 votes. Adv Subbaiah Rai, son of former Congress MP I. Rama Rai could contest here.

Wayanad

There are lots of people who want to contest here as it’s a UDF forte. A.K. Antony’s son Anil Antony and former KPCC president M.M. Hassan are the names that are being raised. Even Oommen Chandy’s name was rumoured. However DCC leadership have said that the candidate would be from Wayanad itself.

Kozhikkode

Sitting MP M.K. Raghavan is the favourite to contest here. However a section of Congress and Youth Congress is against this.

Vadakara

Mullappally Ramachandran won here last time with a majority of 3,306 votes. T. Sidhique and Shanimol Usman are the forerunners for candidacy this time.