The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has announced DYFI district president M.B. Faizal as its candidate in the Malappuram Lok Sabha byelection to be held on April 12.
Mr. Faizal will take on Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader P.K. Kunhalikutty.
CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan announced Mr. Faizal’s candidature after a meeting of the party district secretariat here on Saturday afternoon. At present a district panchayat councillor representing the Changaramkulam division and CPI(M) Edappal area committee member, Mr. Faizal was apparently the choice of the party State leadership.
Mr. Balakrishnan said the byelection verdict would be a reflection of the 10-month-old LDF rule in the State. According to him, the United Democratic Front (UDF) is on the verge of disintegration and the Malappuram byelection will hasten that process.
“Mr. Kunhalikutty has decided to try his luck in Delhi seeing the disintegration of the UDF in the State,” said Mr. Balakrishnan.
Mr. Faizal said the LDF would raise larger issues such as the importance of secularism in the light of increasing Sangh Parivar influence across the country.
He said his party would put up a good fight against the UDF leader in Malappuram. Apart from that of Mr. Faizal, several names such as T.K. Hamza and T.K. Rasheedali had come up for consideration. A law graduate, Mr. Faizal was formerly SFI district vice president and joint secretary.
The April 12 byelection will be his maiden electoral battle beyond local bodies.
