Stalkers' unlikely to wrest Eravipuram from RSP

Kollam: There are many UDF claimants for the Eravipuram constituency in Kollam, where RSP state secretary A.A. Azeez has declared himself as the candidate. The RSP  had held the seat before its cross-over to the UDF. But the IUML, which has been contesting unsuccessfully from Eravipuram except in the case of P.K.K. Baba in 1991, has staked  claims for it.  Mr A. Younus Kunju, IUML district president, has threatened to contest as an independent candidate. Earlier, the IUML state leadership had intervened to give  Eravipuram to the RSP and take  Karunagappally instead.

The Congress also faces threat from rebel candidate Binoy Shanoor, who is the district president of Vyapari Vyavasayi Congress and a former Youth Congress leader. Several YC  activists had complained that they were sidelined  even in the local body polls.

The CPM’s list for the seat includes the names of  Mr M. Naushad,  former deputy mayor of  Kollam Corporation, and  Mr  E. Shanavas Khan, lawyer and CITU state committee member. The CPI claims that  Eravipuram is its stronghold and has included CPI state council member J. Chinju Rani in its list.