ALAPPUZHA: K.C. Venugopal, the sitting MP and the Congress General Secretary with organizational duties is keeping hold of Lok Sabha seat for the past 10 years. CPM’s dilemma was to find a suitable candidate who can take on K.C Venugopal. By declaring Arif as the candidate, the activists are overjoyed.

Usually a left forte in state politics, Alappuzha tends to sway left and right when it comes to Lok Sabha. The CPM is using the same strategy they used in 1989 and 1999 when the fielded T.J. Anjalos against Vakkom Purushothaman and Dr. K.S. Manoj against V.M. Sudheeran.

Alappuzha is a place with great importance for community votes, with the Ezhava community claiming the majority. Nair community have 15 percent of voters. Muslim voters are around 2 lakhs and Latin Catholic voters are around one lakh. Arif is the first Muslim candidate in the history of Alappuzha. With Arif, LDF can now hope for a good share of Muslim votes which usually stands with the UDF. With traditional party votes and Ezhava votes, CPM hopes for a winning combination.

Last time, CPM district secretary C.B. Chandra Babu contested against K.C. Venugopal, failing by 19,407 votes. Nair votes might still favor Venugopal.