Kannur, Kerala’s crimson citadel, is abuzz with pre-election fervor following CPI(M)’s candidate list. Approving 13 of 16 seats, the district committee has signaled the iron grip of CM Pinarayi Vijayan and state chief MV Govindan, solidifying their leadership ahead of the assembly polls.
The snub to heavyweights EP Jayarajan, MV Jayarajan, and P Jayarajan has left many stunned. This district, a longstanding CPI(M) stronghold, now witnesses a recalibration of power dynamics.
Vijayan is poised for a re-run from Dharmadam, his reliable base. But the headline-grabber is KK Shailaja’s relocation from secure Mattanur to challenging Peravoor, once a Congress fiefdom.
MV Govindan’s spouse, PK Shyama, steps into Thalassery, mirroring the 2021 success of R Bindu, wife of the then-acting secretary, who clinched a cabinet berth.
In a bombshell, Speaker AN Shamseer loses Thalassery to Karayi Rajan, facing murder charges yet on bail. Opponents are already sharpening their attacks.
Payyanur sticks with TI Madhusudanan despite fund scam shadows. Rebel V Kunjikrishnan, backed by Congress, looms as a wildcard.
With 13 seats in its kitty and three for allies, CPI(M) eyes a repeat of 2021’s 14-seat haul. Organizational steel persists, but whispers of discontent hint that ticket decisions might sway this red bastion’s fate over rival prowess.