THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: M P Abdussamad Samadani is likely to contest from the Malappuram Lok Sabha seat which was left vacant with the resignation of P K Kunhalikutty. The poll panel has also concurred with Muslim League’s demand to conduct the by-poll to Malappuram seat along with the state assembly elections. The decision to conduct both elections at the same time has been taken to reduce poll expense. Muslim League will declare the candidate for the by-polls in Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency along with the list of candidates to be fielded for the assembly polls.

The party has earlier considered multiple names for the candidature in Malappuram by-election. National secretary Siraj Seth, Mannarcaud MLA N Shamsuddin, National secretary of the Youth League C K Subair are some of the names considered by the party for candidature. But the party’s high-powered panel decided to field Samadani for the bypolls.

Samadani was considered as he had previous experience in Parliament. His relations with national-level leaders and his linguistic skills were some of the factors which prompted League leadership to choose Samadani for candidature. Pankkad family also wants Samadani to contest in the bypolls. Meanwhile, P V Abdul Vahab will contest in the vacant Rajya Sabha seat. Earlier there were unconfirmed reports that Vahab will contest in the assembly polls but League decided to let him continue in the national politics.