PONNANI: A massive protest has erupted within the Ponnani CPM unit over candidate selection. CPM activists, including women, are protesting in the streets against the Left Front's nomination of P Nandakumar. The protesters want TM Siddique to be their candidate. The activists are protesting under the banner 'Leaders will be corrected by the party and the party will be corrected by the people'.

The protesters are expressing their opposition towards the move to field a leader from outside the district instead of fielding a CPM district secretariat member from the Ponnani area. There have been similar pressures and protests in recent days. Posters demanding Siddique's candidature were seen in some parts of Ponnani. Local CPM leaders had also met district leaders to discuss the issue.