Battle between two veteran politicians in Kerala’s Kollam: Congress’ two-time MP vs. CPI(M)’s film star MLA
Thiruvananthapuram, March 20 (IANS) – The upcoming Lok Sabha election in Kollam, Kerala, is set to witness a faceoff between two-time sitting MP N.K. Premachandran and film star-turned-politician Mukesh. Premachandran, aiming for a hat-trick, is a member of the Revolutionary Socialist Party, while Mukesh is a two-time CPI(M) legislator with a film background.
Premachandran, a former State Minister and archrival of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, joined the Congress-led UDF in 2011, leading to tensions within the Left. Despite challenges in 2014 and 2019 from CM Vijayan’s camp, he managed to secure victory with significant margins.
In a bid to unseat Premachandran, the Left has now fielded Mukesh, counting on their success in all seven Assembly segments. However, the Congress remains optimistic about winning the seat for the third consecutive time. The BJP, yet to announce their candidate, is considering TV star Krishnakumar to add flair to the contest.
Premachandran’s popularity among the opposition and speculations about his allegiance following a lunch hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has added intrigue to the race. Meanwhile, Mukesh hopes to leverage the CPI(M)’s stronghold in the region for a victory. The stage is set for a heated battle between the two contenders and potential new candidate from the BJP.
