KALPETTA: Sathyan Mokeri will be the LDF candidate in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in the bypolls to be held on November 13. The decision was taken in the CPI state executive. The announcement is likely to be made soon.

The party considered some including E S Bijimol and Sathyan Mokeri. Annie Raja, who contested against Rahul Gandhi last time, had already made it clear that she is no longer in the fray. Anni Raja's daughter Aparajitha's name also came up.

Elections are not even a month away. Therefore, the fronts have decided to start electioneering at high speed. Rahul Gandhi, who won from the constituency also won in Rae Bareli. Fearing the backlash in North India if resigned from Rae Bareli, Rahul gave up the Wayanad. With this, the stage was set for the by-elections in Wayanad.

Rahul's sister and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi is the UDF candidate in the constituency. The UDF had started preparations for the elections months ago. The state leaders themselves have taken up the responsibility of the elections.

K Surendran or Shobha Surendran are likely to be the NDA candidates. Surendran, who contested against Rahul Gandhi in the last election, had performed well. Surendran got 1,41,045 votes. Thushar Vellappally, who was the NDA candidate in 2019, got only 78, 816 votes. Surendran had raised the NDA votes from 7.2 percent to 13 percent. If it is decided that a woman need contest against Priyanka Gandhi, then chances are more for Shobha Surendran.