The selection of candidates in Alappuzha and Kannur is now becoming a big headache for the Congress. In Kannur, the seat vacated by K. Sudhakaran is being insisted on by a section of the Theiya community. The sitting MPs of Congress in Kasaragod, Vadakara and Kozhikode constituencies are from the Nair community. Another is the need to maintain communal balance through the Kannur seat. If that happens, Sudhakaran’s loyalists K Jayantho and M Liju will secure the seats. The front has two MPs from the Muslim community, but the Congress has none. So another requirement is to have someone from the Muslim community in Alappuzha. The names of Shanimol Usman, AA Shukur and MM Hasan are considered here by the Congress. Apart from this, the Congress is also considering a prominent actor in Malayalam for a possible candidate in Alappuzha.
There are some Congress leaders who are putting forward another formula of a Muslim woman candidate in Kannur and an Ezhava candidate in Alappuzha. If that happens, Shama Muhammad will come to Kannur’s list. If there is a possibility of landing the youth, there is also a possibility of the State Secretary of the Youth Congress, Abdul Rasheed. In Alappuzha, M Liju and AICC member Anil Bose will come to the discussion if Ezhava comes to the representation. There are also opinions in the party that Adoor Prakash should leave Atingal and contest in Alappuzha. However, in the present situation, some of the senior leaders also share the observation that Youth Congress president Rahul Mankoot is the best candidate who can see a political contest in Alappuzha, the sitting seat of CP Imam.
