By pitching heavyweight candidates against the Congress in nearly all Lok Sabha constituencies, the Left Democratic Front (LDF), particularly the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-M], is unequivocally signalling that its alliance within the INDIA bloc holds little significance for the party in Kerala.
Even the Communist Party of India (CPI) has nominated one of its most formidable candidates, Annie Raja, in Wayanad possibly to take on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Ms. Raja is the general secretary of the National Federation of Indian Women and is also a member of the national executive of the CPI.
On all accounts, party sources said, the CPI(M) aims to fiercely contest in as many seats in the State as possible, bettering its performance in the 2014 elections. Back then, the CPI(M) notched up six seats, including the one secured by late actor Innocent, who contested as an Independent supported by the LDF. Among them, four MPs hailed from Malabar — P. Karunakaran (Kasaragod), P.K. Sreemathi (Kannur), M.B. Rajesh (Palakkad), and P.K. Biju (Alathur). The sixth seat was won by A. Sampath from Attingal in the south.
