LS polls: CPI-M announces 15 candidates from Kerala

The Communist Party of India-Marxist has announced its list of 15 candidates from Kerala. The state has 20 Lok Sabha seats.

CPI-M which has a strong political base and popular leaders in Kerala has sprung a surprise by shortlisting some independents as its candidates for the general elections.

Here is the list

Kasargode- P Karunakaran, sitting MP

Kannur- PK Sreemathi

Vadakara- AN Shamsee, joint secretary of DYFI and entered politics through SFI.

Kozhikode- A Vijayaraghavan, former MP- both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha

Malappuram- PK Sainaba

Palakkad- MB Rajesh- sitting MP

Alathur- PK Biju, sitting MP

Alappuzha- CB Chandrababu

Kollam- MA Baby- MLA and CPIM Politburo member

Attingal- A Sampath, sitting MP

Ponnani- V Abdul Rahman

Chalakuddy - Film actor, Innocent

Ernakulam - Christy Fernandez, former IAS officer

Pathanamthitta- Peelipose Thomas, former senior Congress leader, was Pathanamthitta DCC president for almost 15 years.

Idukki- Joyce George - He was the legal advisor of the high range protection council formed to fight the Kasturirangan report.

However, after the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) defected from Left front to join the ruling UDF in Kerala, an upbeat Chief Minister Oomen Chandy said the development is a "morale booster" for the Congress-led alliance and reflects disarray and demoralisation in the rival LDF.

Seeing it as a "big blow" to CPI(M), he expressed confidence that the UDF will win upto 18 out of 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala in the April 10 elections.