Rebels set to spoil UDF party

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When the last date for withdrawing nominations ended on Monday, many rebels and namesakes remained in the fray. The UDF candidates seem to be facing the biggest rebel and namesake menace. P. K. Ragesh poses a threat to UDF candidate K. M. Shaji in Azhikode while Sobhana George is threatening the prospects of P. C. Vishnunath in Chengannur.

In Peravoor, former Karshaka Congress state general secretary K. J. Joseph is posing a serious threat to sitting MLA Sunny Joseph. He was ousted after he spoke against the MLA and the party leadership alleging anti-farmer stand .
In Irikkur, NORKA minister K.C. Joseph is facing rebel threat from local Congress leader Binoy Thomas.

In Kuttanad, Kerala Congress  (M) steering committee member Jose Koyippally is contesting as a rebel on the telephone symbol. KC(M)'s official candidate is Jacob Abraham. Namesake candidates are there in many constituencies. RMP candidate in Vadakara, K K Rema, faces another K K Rema as well as a T P Rema, resembling her slain husband T P Chandrasekharan’s initials.

UDF candidate in Kunnamkulam  C. P. John, who had lost the elections last time as his namesake went away a good number of votes, could heave a sigh of relief this time as the namesake candidate withdrew. LDF candidate A C Moideen’s namesake also followed suit. The namesake of actor turned UDF candidate Jagadeesh in Pathanapuram has also withdrawn.

Health minister V S Sivakumar and LDF’s Antony Raju in Thiruvananthapuram, CPI leader C Divakaran in Nedumangad, excise minister K Babu and his LDF rival M. Swaraj in Tripunithura, LDF’s Anilkumar in Ernakulam, UDF’s M Liju in Kayamkulam LDF’s P Prasad in Haripad , UDF’s K S Sabarinathan in Aruvikkara and agriculture minister K P Mohanan in Koothuparamba also face the menace.