Who Will Replace Nellikunnu in Kasaragod This Time? Young Leaders in Candidate Discussions, Likely Names Emerging
Kasaragod: Candidate discussions are active in the Kasaragod constituency, one of the strongholds of the Muslim League. As the current MLA, NA Nellikkunnu, has completed three terms, it is almost certain that a new candidate will be fielded this time. Since a section within the party has taken the stand that a candidate from outside the district is not preferred, KM Shaji is unlikely to be considered here. In that case, the names of young leaders from within the constituency may come under discussion.
Among the names currently being heard as replacements for Nellikkunnu, the prominent one is League District President Kallatra Mahin Haji. If priority is given to youth, Youth League District Secretary MA Najeeb may get the opportunity. Along with them, the names being discussed in the constituency include League District Treasurer PM Muneer Haji, former MSF National Secretary Ibrahim Pallankode, STU National Vice President A. Abdurahman, and League Mandalam President Mahin Kelot.
In the recent local body elections, young leaders who were League candidates delivered strong performances. In this context, the League State President Sadikali Shihab Thangal had announced that young leaders would be given opportunities in the Assembly elections as well. Therefore, all eyes are on whether young leaders will be fielded in seats where victory is considered certain.
The name of KM Shaji, Muslim League State Secretary and former MLA of Azhikode, is again being discussed in the constituency this time. However, when several capable leaders within the district are waiting for an opportunity, a section in the district maintains that no outsider should be fielded as a candidate. At the same time, district leaders have stated that they will accept whoever is decided as the candidate by the leadership at Panakkad.
Kasaragod is a constituency that has continuously elected only the Muslim League since 1977. The BJP is currently the runner-up here. In 2011, NA Nellikkunnu defeated BJP candidate Jayalakshmi N. Bhatt by 9,738 votes, and in 2016 he defeated Ravisha Thanthri Kundar by 8,067 votes, increasing his majority. In the 2021 Assembly election, Nellikkunnu defeated BJP leader K. Sreekanth by 12,903 votes. In all three elections, INL contested from the LDF in this constituency.
