KOZHIKODE: It is exciting to see that along with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan his son-in-law Mohammad Riyaz will also be contesting the coming assembly elections. Wives of party state secretary A Vijayaraghavan and Minister A K Balan contesting polls had drawn criticism. At the end of the controversy, Balan’s wife lost the seat and Vijayaraghavan's wife found a place in the list of candidates and will be contesting from Irinjalakuda.

Meantime, Pinarayi's son-in-law Mohammad Riyaz got the seat not because of his father-in-law. Riyaz, the party's youth face and DYFI all-India secretary, has been a leading fighter in several protests staged by the organisation. Riyaz is also active in channel discussions. Riyaz got married to chief minister's daughter Veena at a function held at the Cliff House during COVID times. The news had gained prominence that time.

When Pinarayi is contesting from Dharmadom in Kannur, Riyaz will be contesting from Beypore in Kozhikode. Whether Pinarayi will campaign for him in the constituency is something to be watched. Those within the party say that Riyaz will be accommodated in Pinarayi’s cabinet after it has been predicted that CPM will retain power in the state. They say that party’s youth face Riyaz cannot be excluded from the cabinet.

Mohammad Riyaz's response was that the Beypore Model victory of 1911 would be witnessed in this election. Co-Le-B alliance of Beypore will be faced strongly. Beypore is a constituency that has proved one plus one is not two in politics, he said.