Thiruvananthapuram: In the upcoming Assembly elections, the CPM has decided to field PK Shyamala — wife of state secretary and sitting MLA MV Govindan, and a Mahila Association leader — as its candidate from Taliparamba. The decision was reportedly taken at the CPM state secretariat meeting held on Wednesday. The CPM’s Kannur district list, which includes PK Shyamala, had already received approval from the district secretariat meeting the other day.

There had been objections among party workers over the move to field PK Shyamala, who is district secretary of the Mahila Association, in Taliparamba. Posts opposing her candidature had appeared on social media and within party circles. However, the state secretariat has decided to move forward, disregarding these objections. The candidate list will be presented before the state committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

Initial criticism was that the leadership sought to secure the seat by insisting on fielding a woman candidate in the constituency from the outset.

The main name that emerged was PK Shyamala. Meanwhile, the name of N Sukanya had also surfaced. Sukanya, also a Mahila Association leader, is the wife of James Mathew, who represented Taliparamba twice.