After numerous objections and turnarounds on the question of the Kollam seat, the CPI(M) has finally fielded Actor Mukesh from this constituency.
Mukesh is a veteran actor with over 250 films under his belt, and is the son of famous stage artiste O Madhavan and film actress Vijayakumari.
The question of Mukesh’s candidature had remained hanging in the balance until earlier in the week, as repeated district secretariat meetings failed to produce a decision in his favour.
It was only with a firm stand taken by senior leaders, including Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan, on Monday that sitting MLA PK Gurudasan could not be fielded as a candidate that clarity appeared on Mukesh’s candidature.
Gurudasan, a former minister, has held the constituency since 2006, when he defeated Babu Divakaran of the RSP(M). In 2011, he defeated the Congress’s KC Rajan.
But with the LDF’s loss in the Kollam parliamentary constituency in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as a result of opposition from the RSP, Mukesh’s nomination is seen as an attempt to counter the growing clout of the UDF.