M.V. Govindan says CPI(M) will announce its list of candidates for Assembly polls by March 8 or 9

CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan on Saturday said that the party will complete the process of selecting candidates for the Assembly elections by March 8 or 9. 

“Preliminary discussions are under way. The CPI(M) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) are going by the criterion of winnability of candidates while also considering those with the ability to lead the State,” Mr. Govindan told the media after a meeting of the CPI(M) State secretariat here. 

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will be the only Polit Bureau member in the fray. In constituencies where the CPI(M) is sure of victory, the two-term stipulation – that those who have served two consecutive terms in the Assembly will not be fielded – will be adhered to. 

Mr. Govindan said that there had been a vicious campaign against Health Minister Veena George for some time, even during her previous election contest. It gained strength after she carried out commendable work in strengthening the public health sector. He reiterated the stance that the Kerala Students Union (KSU) had planned and executed an ambush against the Minister at Kannur railway station by bringing in people from outside the district. 

He described the making of the film The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond  – a sequel to a film with the same name, which was feted by the Centre with awards – as a case of political vendetta against the State. Right-wing extremists are promoting the film. While a Single Bench of the High Court had stayed the screening, a Division Bench overruled it. “But we should be extremely vigilant that the film does not cause communal flare-ups in the society,” he added. 

Talking about the Israel-U.S. attack on Iran, he said U.S. President Donald Trump was burning down the world in a bid to usurp all its resources.