CPI(M) to field Sarin from Palakkad, U.R. Pradeep from Chelakkaara

CPI(M) State secretary announces expelled Congress leader as LDF's Independent candidate for Palakkad bypoll, aiming to defeat BJP.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State secretary M.V. Govindan on Friday said expelled Congress leader P. Sarin would contest as the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) Independent candidate for the bypoll in the Palakkad Assembly constituency.

Mr. Govindan named U.R. Pradeep, leader of the CPI(M), as the LDF’s candidate for the Chelakkara Assembly bypoll. 

He said the CPI(M) decided to field Mr. Sarin unanimously. The LDF accommodated Mr. Sarin after he rejected the Congress bid to aid the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Palakkad as a trade-off for helping Shafi Parambil win in the Vadakara Lok Sabha constituency. 

By fielding Mr. Sarin as an Independent, the CPI(M) appeared keen to prevent the BJP from receiving Congress discontents’ votes in the Palakkad bypoll. The CPI(M)‘s optimism that Mr. Sarin would harness disgruntled Congress votes to the LDF fold reportedly made the dissident the top pick for the ruling front.

Mr. Govindan said the bypoll results would be a bellwether of Kerala’s voting behaviour in the 2026 local body polls and beyond.

 “Hence, the stakes are high, and the fight will be fierce. The BJP is the principal enemy. The Congress helped the BJP to open an account in the Nemom Assembly constituency in 2016. It channelled 86,000 votes to the BJP in the Thrissur Lok Sabha election. A clique in the Congress sacrificed K. Muraleedharan at the BJP’s altar as a quid pro quo for the Sangh Parivar’s aid for Shafi Parambil in Vadakara. The LDF will defeat the Congress’ tactical gambit in Palakkad,” Mr Govindan said. 

Mr. Govindan dismissed questions about Mr. Sarin’s about-turn on the latter’s past hostility to the CPI(M). He said the CPI(M) discerned no ideological inconsistency in welcoming a former foe to the LDF fold.