CPI(M) has, not been able to finalise

The CPI(M) has, not been able to finalise its candidate for the Ernakulam Assembly constituency. Although the party has been trying hard to persuade K. Balachandran, who was Mayor of Kochi and chairman of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) and who has an illustrious political lineage, he has so far not consented to the proposal. Party sources indicated that a decision on the CPI(M) candidate would be taken either late Saturday night or early Sunday. The Ernakulam seat was being represented in the Assembly by Congress leader K.V. Thomas, who has been elected to the Lok Sabha and has since become the Unieron Minister of State for Agriculture.