Thiruvananthapuram: At the CPM Secretariat meeting convened to finalise the candidate list, Central Committee member and Mattannur MLA K K Shailaja spoke emotionally after finding that the proposed list excluded her.

As the decision was that Ministers and a majority of the sitting MLAs would be fielded again, Shailaja reportedly asked, “Why am I alone being sidelined?” She said she shares an emotional bond with Mattannur and has carried out numerous development initiatives there. When exemptions are being granted to others from the term limit norm to allow them to contest again, why should she alone be left out, she asked, expressing her willingness to contest.

Following this, the meeting is learnt to have reached a consensus that she could contest from Peravoor instead. Shailaja is understood not to have reacted further to the proposal. The name of Iritty area secretary Zakir Hussain figures in the list for Peravoor.

In Thaliparamba, state secretary M V Govindan will not contest. Instead, his wife P K Shyamala will be the candidate. Shyamala is a former chairperson of Anthoor Municipality.

The CPM has also dropped plans to field some senior leaders. Thomas Isaac and M M Mani will not be candidates. In Udumbanchola, State Secretariat member K K Jayachandran is expected to contest in place of Mani.

Secretariat members M Swaraj, P K Biju, Puthalath Dinesan and E P Jayarajan will not be in the fray.