THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPI state executive will meet here on Wednesday to discuss norms for selecting candidates for the assembly elections and arrangements for the LDF campaign rally beginning on Sunday. The meeting will be followed by a three-day session of state council where reports from district council regarding elections will be discussed.
Though CPI follows a twoterm norm for MLAs, currently there are several MLAs who have completed three terms. Last time, the state council granted exemption to several candidates including three ministers — V S Sunilkumar, P Thilothaman and K Raju — after assessing that only they could ensure wins in crucial seats. C Divakaran and E S Bijimol are also serving third consecutive terms in the assembly.
It is learnt that the executive is proposing to replace all MLAs who completed the third term. Some two-term MLAs will also be benched while some others would be granted exemption based on reports from districts.
CPI general secretary D Raja will reach here this weekend. He will be inaugurating the southern campaign rally led by MP Binoy Viswam on Sunday. The state panels will discuss preparations to make the rally a huge success in party strongholds like Kollam district.
The CPI leadership panels will also discuss the review reports from district councils on the party’s performance in the local body elections. Though LDF made a big win, CPI is probing reasons for failure in some seats where the party had expected to win.