Though the State leadership of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has declared actor Mukesh as the Left Democratic Front candidate from the Kollam constituency, his failure to turn up in the constituency even after three days of the declaration is becoming a talking point and disappointment to LDF cadres.
Mr. Mukesh who is in Palakkad in connection with some of his professional commitments is expected to reach here on Sunday to formally launch his campaign.
But the candidate taking a break even after three days of the announcement of his candidature has disappointed activists in the LDF camp.
Hectic in other segments
His absence has resulted in the LDF campaign in Kollam witnessing a dull phase compared to the hectic campaign in the Eravipuram, Kundara and Kottarakara constituencies where the CPI(M) candidates are in the fray. The CPI(M) circles here have not been that receptive to the selection of Mukesh, a son of Kollam, because of a notion that he had been “imposed” by the State committee.
This is attributed as the reason for many of the party’s Kollam cadres who had been in the forefront of CPI(M) candidate P.K. Gurudasan’s campaigning in the previous two elections now moving over to Eravipuram to campaign for CPI(M) candidate M. Noushad, who is the former deputy mayor of Kollam.
The Communist Party of India district unit is also maintaining a studied silence on Mukesh’s candidature. The CPI had all along viewed Mr. Mukesh and his family as part of the CPI clan vis-a-vis the long-standing association of Mukesh’s father the late O. Madhavan with the CPI. In this backdrop, many CPI activists are unable to grasp how Mr. Mukesh suddenly found favour with the CPI(M). This entire lull in the LDF camp in Kollam can get a boost only with the presence of Mr. Mukesh in the constituency.
Many cadres from Kollam campaigning for Eravipuram’s candidate
Mukesh expected to reach in constituency on Sunday
