By TCN News,
Malappuram: The Muslim League President yesterday announced the candidates to Eravipuram and Guruvayur constituencies, thus completing the list of candidates of the party in the Assembly election to be held on April 13. Former minister PKK Bava and Ashraf Kokkur will conest in Eravipuram and Guruvayur, respectively.
Mr PKK Bava is presently the Kozhikode district president of the party. He was elected to the Assembly from Eravipuram in 1991 and became the Minister of Public Works Department. He was the president of the Youth League during the time of the language struggle in early 1980s. Since the formation of the Eravipuram constituency in 1957 the RSP had won to the Assembly in all elections, but for in 1991 when Mr Bava won. The Muslim League had been contesting in the constituency since 1980. In the 2006 election, Youth League state president KM Shaji lost to AA Azeez of RSP for more than 24,000 votes. Mr Ashraf Kokkur is a member of the state working committee and is also the Malappuram district secretary.
The party had earlier announced its candidates to 22 out of the total 24 seats it is contesting. General secretary PK Kunjalikkutty is contesting from vengara in Malappuram and secretary Dr MK Muneer from Kozhikode South (also known as Kozhikode II). Other important candidates are secretaries TA Ahmed Kabeer (Mankada) and KNA Qader (Vallikkunnu), national secretary MP Abdussamad Samadani (Kottakkal), and Youth League president KM Shaji (Azheekode) and secretary Adv N Shamsudheen (Mannarkkad).
Now that the total list is out, it is clear that the Muslim League is not fielding any women candidates to the Assembly. There have been rumours that at least one woman would be found in the list. However, it is said that the party did not consider any women due to strong opposition from the Samastha Kerala Jamiyathul Ulema, the Sunni organisation supporting the League. The organisation had reportedly opposed the party fielding women candidates in the Panchayat elections also.