Thiruvananthapuram: The CPI-M has decided to field senior leader M Vijayakumar as its candidate in the bypoll in Aruvikkara constituency to be held June 27.
The decision, taken by the Thiruvananthapuram district secretariat, will be submitted for the approval of the State secretariat, scheduled to meet on Friday.
The candidature of Vijayakumar, a popular leader in the constituency, has forced the Congress look for someone with a similar status. The majority of the partymen are reportedly in favour of M T Sulekha, the widow of former speaker G Karthikeyan and a retired college professor.
Meanwhile, KPCC President V M Sudheeran on Thursday said that the present political scenario would not affect the bypoll. “The UDF will field a suitable candidate. The name will be announced soon,” Sudheeran said.
The bypoll in the Thiruvananthapuram district was necessitated by the death of senior Congress leader and speaker G. Karthikeyan in March 2015. It is seen as a dress rehearsal for the state's local bodies elections later in the year and the assembly elections in 2016.