N Sakthan faces mighty war
A Congress strongman, an advocate-cum- literary enthusiast and a senior BJP leader fight it out in Karamana constituency.
Thiruvananthapuram: There are three heavyweights fighting it out in Kattakada --Speaker N. Sakthan, former SFI leader I.B. Satheesh and former BJP state president P.K. Krishnadas. CPM candidate Satheesh is a multi-tasker who has been one of the first advocates in Thiruvananthapuram to specialise in intellectual property right cases.
He was also the organiser of Kattal book fair, one of the most prominent rural cultural festivals, and also a promoter of organic food products who successfully organised an organic bazaar in Kattakada during the last Onam season.
However, how much his multi-tasking skills would help him in the contest against Congress strongman Sakthan, who was elected to the state Assembly three times in a row from the constituency in 2001, 2006 and 2011, remains to be seen. Mr Sakthan had also served as the minister in the 2004-06 Oommen Chandy government.
He became deputy speaker after the 2011 polls and presided over the proceedings of the last session of the Assembly when G. Karthikeyan was away for treatment. He was elected speaker after the death of Karthikeyan.
Mr Satheesh stopped practising as a lawyer once he was elected as the Kattakada area committee secretary. There was a party directive against area secretaries practising as lawyers. Mr Satheesh is also a good literary organiser. The Kattal book festival in Kattakada which he has been organising for the last three years was a grand success, Mr Satheesh told DC.
“From this year, we have introduced a literary award in connection with the event. Writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair was selected for the first award. The response for the book fair has been very positive since its inception,” Mr Satheesh said.
Mr P.K. Krishnadas, BJP candidate, is also politicaheavyweight. A former state president of the party, Mr Krishnadas is now national executive committee member. He has risen from the ranks serving in various positions, including Yuvamorcha state president, BJP state secretary and BJP state general secretary.