Thrissur: Discontent is simmering within the grassroots ranks of the CPM after the district committee submitted to the state committee a list of Assembly election candidates that reportedly contains no new faces. Traditionally, the party in the district has presented candidate lists that made room for newcomers.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, N K Akbar in Guruvayur, Xavier Chittilappilly in Wadakkanchery, K K Ramachandran in Pudukad and R Bindu in Irinjalakuda were all first-time candidates. All of them went on to win. In Chelakkara, K Radhakrishnan was fielded in 2021 after a five-year gap.

In 2016, sitting MLA K Radhakrishnan was replaced by U R Pradeep in Chelakkara, while in Kunnamkulam, sitting MLA Babu M Palissery was replaced by A C Moideen. Both secured victories. In Irinjalakuda, the CPM fielded newcomer K U Arunan against the consistently winning UDF candidate Thomas Unniyadan. In Wadakkanchery, CPM’s first-time candidate Mary Thomas lost to Congress leader Anil Akkara by just 43 votes.

In 2021, the state committee overruled the district committee’s recommendations in Guruvayur and Chelakkara. U R Pradeep was replaced by K Radhakrishnan in Chelakkara, while Baby John was dropped in Guruvayur and N K Akbar was fielded instead — decisions taken by the state committee. Both candidates registered emphatic victories. Grassroots party workers in the district are hopeful that a similar intervention may occur this time as well.

There had been expectations that district secretariat member and CITU district general secretary U P Joseph, T V Haridasan (Manalur), district committee member and former VS faction leader T Sashidharan, and Democratic Women’s Association district secretary Usha Prabhukumar would find a place on the list.

After a brief lull, the A C Moideen faction has regained influence within the party in the district. Moideen had found himself isolated within the CPM following an Enforcement Directorate raid at his residence on August 22, 2023. In April 2025, M Balaji, who had differences with Moideen, was inducted into the secretariat. This had led to widespread speculation that the P K Biju–K V Abdul Khader faction had sidelined Moideen. In the preliminary candidate list submitted by the district committee to the state committee, Moideen’s name was reportedly placed fourth for Kunnamkulam. However, in the final list, he has secured the top position.