PALAKKAD: A section of CPM leaders and workers are unhappy with the party's decision to field Dr Sarin, who left the Congress, as the LDF candidate in Palakkad. They're arguing that the party was repeating its past mistake by overlooking existing leaders and opting for defectors, citing the controversy surrounding PV Anvar's fallout with the CPM.

This by-election is crucial for CPM, which finished third in the last two elections in the constituency. The leadership is well aware that if they fail to make political progress, there is little hope of regaining the Palakkad stronghold anytime soon. It is in this context that efforts are being made to field Sarin, who left Congress, as a candidate.

The party is planning to field Sarin with the party symbol. However, activists are worried that this move will eventually backfire. The workers are warning the leadership to tread carefully, citing the controversy surrounding P.V Anvar's fallout with the CPM. The LDF had initially shortlisted V Vaseef, K Binumol, and Safdar Sharif as potential candidates for Palakkad. Taking into account the chances of winning, the district committee and the secretariat ultimately recommended K Binumol to the state leadership. However, Sarin's entry into the race came shortly after this.

In the previous assembly election, CPM initially reserved the seat for former DCC President AV Gopinathan, but later brought in CP Pramod, who ended up in third place. The activists are demanding that the leadership should be cautious to prevent the same situation from occurring in this by-election as well.