Senior journalist John Brittas, who is the Managing Director of CPM-run Kairali TV, and CPM state secretary V Sivadasan are all set to become Rajya Sabha MPs. The duo are the nominees for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls. The decision was made by the CPM state secretariat on Friday. Muslim League leader PV Abdul Wahab submitted his nomination as the UDF candidate for the Rajya Sabha poll. All three candidates are likely to win unopposed. A vote would have been conducted if the CPM had named a third candidate.
This time there are three vacant seats for Kerala. Based on the existing strength in the Assembly, the UDF can nominate one person, while the LDF can file two.
While the State leadership had suggested Brittas for Rajya Sabha several times, it was the adamant stand by the central leadership to place priority on the party’s senior leaders that came as a barrier between the media person and the parliament. Though there were reports that the party may decide to give outgoing Rajya Sabha MP KK Ragesh one more term, the leadership decided to go with Brittas.
Former SFI national president V Sivadasan has been coordinating the CPM's social media and its IT cell. He was in charge of the LDF's social media campaigning in the recent Assembly election. A number of other names including that of Cherian Philip, Thomas Isaac and EP Jayarajan were also doing the rounds as possible LDF candidates. The election to three Rajya Sabha seats from Kerala will be held on April 30.
