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The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has announced its list of candidates for the upcoming local body elections in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. Candidates have been declared for 93 wards, while names for the remaining eight seats will be announced later. Notably, incumbent Mayor Arya Rajendran does not feature on the list.
Of the total seats, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] will contest in 70 wards, while 31 seats have been allocated to the LDF’s constituent parties. The Communist Party of India (CPI) will field candidates in 17 wards, Kerala Congress (M) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in three each, Janata Dal (Secular) in two, and Indian National League (INL), Congress (S), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Kerala Congress (B), Janadhipathya Kerala Congress, and Janadhipathya Samrakshana Samithi (JSS) in one each.
CPI(M) nominees
The prominent CPI(M) candidates include former Mayor and Vanchiyoor area secretary K. Sreekumar (Chakka ward), former councillor and Palayam area secretary Vanchiyoor Babu (Vanchiyoor ward), Vilappil area secretary R.P. Sivaji (Punnakkamughal ward) and former general secretary of the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare S.P. Deepak (Pettah ward). Mr. Deepak is also one of four party district committee members in the fray. While the LDF has yet to announce its Mayoral candidate, these senior leaders are seen as strong contenders for the post.
The other key contestants include former Deputy Mayor Rakhi Ravikumar (CPI), who will contest from Vazhuthacaud, I.P. Binu [CPI(M)] from Kunnukuzhy, and Palayam Rajan [Congress (S)] from Nanthancode.
High-profile contests
Several wards are expected to witness high-profile contests. In Kowdiar, A. Sunil Kumar, a former councillor and CPI(M) local committee secretary, will face Congress leader K.S. Sabarinadhan, who is spearheading the United Democratic Front (UDF) campaign.
In Sasthamangalam, Amritha R. of the CPI(M) will compete against former Director General of Police (DGP) R. Sreelekha, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate. V. Sukumaran Nair of the CPI(M) will take on senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and sitting councillor V.V. Rajesh at Kodunganoor.
The list also reflects a strong focus on youth participation, with 13 candidates being under the age of 30, while 12 are below 40. The youngest among them is 23-year-old Magna B., who will contest from the Alathara ward. Tripthiraj S., daughter of the incumbent Deputy Mayor P.K. Raju, will contest from the Pattom ward.
CPI(M) district secretary V. Joy, who announced the candidates, highlighted the growth achieved in the capital city under the LDF governance. The coalition, he added, has transformed the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation into one that attracts global attention. He contrasted this with the BJP-ruled Palakkad municipality which, he claimed, continues to face numerous developmental challenges.
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