By TCN News,
Kozhikode: The Social democratic Party of India will contest to the Kerala Assembly in 98 constituencies, informed the party leaders in a press conference. The party has announced its candidates for 42 constituencies. The election manifesto will be released on March 25.
The SDPI will not field candidates in two constituencies (Nemam in Thiruvananthapuram and Manjeswaram in Kasargod), and will decide on the strategy to be followed there later. It will support the Kerala Dalit Panthers, Lok Janshakthi Party and the Republican Party of India in 40 constituencies. The important candidates are state general secretary MK Manoj Kumar (Kunnathunadu in Ernakulam district), state vice-president PK Ayyappan Master (Peravoor in Kannur district), state secretary Thulaseedharan Pallikkal (Kunnathur in Kollam district) and state treasurer Samkutty Jacob (Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district). State committee members O Aliyar, SH Alhadi and CG Unni are also contesting in the constituencies of Perumbavoor (Ernakulam), Ambalappuzha (Alappuzha) and Nilambur (Malappuram) respectively.
State general secretary P Abdul Majeed Faisy, secretary VT Iqramul Haq and national committee member Adv KM Ashraf attended the press conference.
This is the first election to the Kerala Assembly after the formation of the SDPI. The party is reported to field candidates against Muslim League general secretary PK Kunjalikkutty and Congress leader Aryadan Muhammed, if they are contesting. So it is assumed that the party is waiting for the list of candidates of the two parties to ensure of their candidature. It is known that general secretary P Abdul Majeed Faisy will contest against Mr Kunjalikkutty. The decision of the party not to contest in two constituencies is reported to ensure that the BJP does not win there by a division of votes.
The SDPI had contested in the three-tier Panchayat elections held in the state last year and won 12 seats.