NEW DELHI: KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran will contest the assembly elections. Mullappally expressed his will to the high command to contest the polls either from Kozhikode or Wayanad. Mullappally is keen in contesting from Kalpetta. The main reason behind this is that Kalpetta is a safe constituency.

The high command calculates that Mullappally contesting in north Kerala will be favourable for them there. In North Kerala, where the CPM is generally rooted, the central leadership aims to direct the KPCC president to take the helm of the campaign and bring the activities of the committee to the grassroots.

Kalpetta is a constituency that has been supporting the UDF for years. It is part of the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency of Rahul Gandhi MP. If not Kalpetta, he is interested in contesting in Kozhikode. Mullappally is not interested in going back to his hometown Vadakara, where he has been contesting the Lok Sabha elections for a long time. The main reason behind this is that the competition would be tough. The second factor is that Mullappally does not have a good relationship with K Muraleedharan. Mullappally is not interested in going to Koyilandy where group squabbles are strong.

Though he is the KPCC chief who has created controversies, Mullappally was active in bringing before the high command, including its strict stance against groupism. Mullappally is also credited with replacing DCC presidents holding dual posts.