THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The LDF, which secured only one seat in the last parliamentary elections has now fielded its strongest candidates and is actively working to achieve maximum victory. CPM, contesting in 15 out of 20 seats is putting forward prominent leaders along with young talent. One of the most notable moves is the attempt to unseat Minister K Radhakrishnan who was a member of the Central Committee in the Alathur (formerly Ottapalam) constituency which was traditionally a CPM stronghold.

Polit Bureau member A Vijayaraghavan, Central Committee members Thomas Isaac, KK Shailaja, PK Sreemathi and Elamaram Karim are all being considered as candidates. There is also talk of some incumbent MLAs. The name of TK Vasu, a member of the Palakkad district committee is also being mentioned. Former MP A Vijayaraghavan is being considered for the Palakkad seat and the name of M Swaraj, a member of the state secretariat is also in the list.

Former ministers KK Shailaja and PK Srimati are being considered in Vadakara and Kannur, Elamaram Karim in Kozhikode, Thomas Isaac in Ernakulam, Prof. C Ravindranath in Chalakudy and KT Jalil in Ponnani. The name of Ernakulam Mayor M Anilkumar is also being heard.

Names like V Joy MLA, the CPM District Secretary in Attingal, DYFI All India President and Rajya Sabha member AA Rahim and VK Prashant MLA are being mentioned. Actor and Kollam MLA M Mukesh, former MLA Aisha Potti, Chinta Jerome and district panchayat president PK Gopan are also potential candidates. In Pathanamthitta, former MLA Raju Abraham is leading the way, and Alappuzha's sitting MP AM Arif is expected to run again.

In Idukki, former MP Joice George is a likely candidate while Malappuram's SFI All India President VP Sanu may also be considered. Kasargode's CPM District Secretary MV Balakrishnan and Kannur District Panchayat President PP Divya are under consideration.

In Thiruvananthapuram, the CPI is actively considering the names of party national executive member and Mahila Sangham general secretary Ani Raja for the four seats they are contesting. Minister GR Anil is also a possibility. The CPI finished third in the last two elections in Thiruvananthapuram, so they are seeking a candidate who can gain public support especially with Shashi Tharoor running for the fourth time and rumours of a strong BJP candidate.

In Mavelikkara, Deputy Speaker Chittayam Gopakumar, AIIF leader CA Arunkumar and former MP Chengara Surendran are all being considered. In Thrissur, former Minister VS Sunilkumar is the preferred candidate. The LDF is also looking for a young leader who can effectively challenge Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad where Kerala Congress won as a UDF candidate last time. Thomas Chazhikadan from the Mani faction is set to contest under the LDF banner this time in Kottayam.