A clear picture on CPI(M)- led Left Democratic Front candidates in Kozhikode district has emerged with main coalition partners announcing their nominees for the Assembly polls.
Now the confusion remains only on the candidate of the Janata Dal (Secular), which has been offered the Vadakara seat, like in the previous elections.
The party is likely to nominate sitting legislator C.K. Nanu.
ADVERTISEMENT
At the same time, rumours are rife that M.K. Premnath, who had unsuccessfully contested against Mr. Nanu on the SJ (D) ticket in 2011, but has shifted political loyalties recently, might also be considered for the seat.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), which had a tough time to arrive at a consensus on seat-sharing and choice of candidates, will contest seven out of the 13 seats in the district.
The party has offered two seats, Koduvally and Kunnamangalam, to independents. A rebel from the IUML ranks, Karat Abdul Razak will be the candidate at Koduvally while sitting legislator, P.T.A. Rahim, will fight from Kunnamangalam.
ADVERTISEMENT
The CPI, Janata Dal (Secular), Nationalist Congress Party, and Indian National League (INL), a breakaway faction of the IUML, will contest a seat each in the district.
The LDF has opted for new faces in Kozhikode South and Koduvally constituencies.
In the fray this time will be five sitting MLAs including a woman independent. The CPI and NCP have also nominated their sitting legislators.
Two-time legislator A. Pradeepkumar is the nominee at Kozhikode North while the party has dropped former Minister Elamaram Karim and nominated Kozhikode Mayor and industrialist V.K.C. Mammed Koya for the Beypore seat.
The CPI (M) has once again nominated K.K. Lathika (Kuttiyadi) Purushan Kadalundi (Balussery), K. Dasan (Koyilandy) and George M. Thomas ( Thiruvambadi). The INL candidate is A.P.Abdul Wahab (Kozhikode South).
E.K. Vijayan, sitting MLA of Nadapuram is being fielded again by the CPI while A. K. Saseedran, sitting MLA of Elathur is the NCP candidate.