KOCHI: As many as sixty LDF candidates, including former Chief Minister E K Nayanar’s daughter Usha Praveen, filed nomination papers for elections to the Kochi Corporation here on Monday, a day after the Front officially announced its candidates.
The LDF also announced candidates for the two seats which were left undecided. K V Ansily, former local secretary of the CPM, and Elizabeth, a former school teacher, will contest from Panampilly Nagar and Thevara, respectively.
The LDF also finalised the list of candidates for the district panchayat polls. Of the 27 candidates, the CPM will contest in 16 seats, CPI in five seats and Janata Dal, Kerala Congress and Congress S in one each. The NCP is fielding candidates in two wards. In the Avoli ward, which was earlier allotted to the CPM, the LDF will support Siji Varghese, independent candidate of the Kerala Congress (B).
The list of LDF’s candidates for the district panchayat includes former Chief Minister P K Vasudevan Nair’s daughter Sarada Mohan, who will be contesting from the Kalady.
Senior CPM leaders K M Pareeth, P J Varghese, LDF district convener George Edapparathy, Ayyambilly Bhaskaran, K T Abraham, Laly Kuryachan of the NCP and M P Poulose of the Janata Dal are also in the fray in the district panchayat. The lone candidate of the Congress S, for the Vypeen ward, will be announced later.
The LDF leadership said it would not project any particular candidate for the post of district panchayat president. Just as in the case of the Mayor post, president of the panchayat will be selected after the election, if voted to power. The LDF is also into poll pacts at the local level with parties and groups that closely associate with the Front, including the CPI(ML), RSP, INL and Kerala Congress(B). The election convention of the LDF in the Corporation will be held at Town Hall here on Friday. CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan will inaugurate the convention at 5:00 pm.
Leaders of the Front, including CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran, will address the convention.