The Tamil Nadu unit of the CPI (M) on Monday released its list of candidates for nine Lok Sabha constituencies it intends to contest in alliance with the CPI. The list featured party central committee member U Vasuki as the candidate for North Chennai and A V Bellarmin from Kanyakumari among others.
The list of candidates was released by CPI (M) State secretary G Ramakrishnan, Vasuki, the party’s legislative party leader A Soundararajan and whip K Balakrishnan on Monday evening. While it had some first timers, Bellarmin’s appearance on it had been considered a given in Kanyakumari.
He had won the seat in 2004, as part of the UPA, and had been defeated in his re-election bid in 2009. Apart from the support he enjoys in the constituency, he is considered to hold some appeal as he is a Roman Catholic, and can be expected to get a section of those votes in the event of a split in that vote bank.
The bigger question that now faces the CPI (M) and CPI is whether or not they would support any alliance in the 22 constituencies they are not contesting in the State. Sources in the CPM say they would deliberate on the matter among themselves, consult their high command and also co-ordinate their views with the CPI on the matter.
Others who made it are P R Natarajan from Coimbatore; B Vikraman from Madurai; S Sridhar from Tiruchy; K Samuvel Raj from Virudhunagar; N Pandi from Dindigul; G Anandan from Villupuram (SC); and S Tamilselvi from Thanjavur.