Parties look to bank on younger candidates
CONGRESS’ RAHUL GANDHI HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE CANDIDATES’ LIST WILL BE A PROPER MIX OF YOUTH AND EXPERIENCED
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As chorus for young blood gets louder in Kerala many old faces will be missing from the assembly elections due in April-may. Sensing rough weather, some of the veterans have announced their decision to make way for youngsters.
The opposition Congress has made it clear that more youngsters and women will find place in its list. The ruling CPI(M) is also toying with the idea of inducting youngsters to beat incumbency factor while the Communist Part of India (CPI) has announced its decision not to repeat those who won thrice.
During every election, almost all parties announce that youngsters and women will be given more opportunities, but finally all settle for ‘winnability criteria’. Let us examine the outgoing house; among 140 members, only 9 are women (LDF eight and opposition UDF one), which is less than 10%.
Average age of legislator in
Kerala is 60 years while 20 % of the state ministers are non-matriculates in the high literate state, legislative statistics show. Former CM V S Achuthanandan, 97, is the oldest while 31-year-old Mohammad Mohsin is the youngest in the outgoing assembly.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, also an MP from Wayanad in north Kerala, has made it clear that this time candidates’ list will be a proper mix of youth and experienced.
Veteran leader K C Joseph, who represented Irikkur in north Kerala since 1982, has announced his decision not to contest. Also, two other senior leaders have told the party their decision not to contest this time.
Party national spokesperson Dr Shama Mohammad, TV personality and Youth Congress leader Veena Nair, Kerala Students Union state president K M Abijith are some of the names floating around in women and youngsters list.
Party insiders said Shama Mohammad is likely to be fielded from one of the seats in Kannur in north Kerala. A doctor by profession, she hails from north Kerala.
The CPI, second largest constituent of the ruling LDF, has decided a cap on three-term which will affect six of the 19 legislators including three ministers.
“We always induct fresh blood into the party and parliamentary positions. We have decided to go for three-term norm strictly this time and there will be no exemption,” said CPI secretary Kanam Rajendran.
The CPI(M), which made 21-year-old Arya Rajendran Mayor of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, has also decided to field more youngsters to beat the incumbency factor.