Palakkad, 18 March (H.S.):In a significant political development ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections, former CPM MLA P.K. Sasi, who was recently expelled from the party, will contest as an Independent candidate from the Ottappalam constituency.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Marxist Janadipathya Kootayma, a collective of former CPM members who have parted ways with the party. The group stated that Sasi would enter the fray with the backing of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). However, the UDF is yet to issue an official confirmation regarding its support.

According to sources, Sasi is set to formally launch his campaign with a roadshow on Thursday. He has already begun grassroots outreach in the constituency, meeting voters and mobilising support. In Ottappalam, he is expected to face CPM’s sitting MLA, Adv. K. Premakumar, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest marked by internal dissent within the Left.

The UDF’s decision to extend tacit support to expelled CPM leaders signals a strategic shift in its electoral approach. A similar move was seen in Payyannur, where the front backed Independent candidate V. Kunhikrishnan, another CPM rebel, and reportedly urged its ally RSP to relinquish the seat.

Sasi’s expulsion from the CPM followed his alleged disparaging remarks against district leadership during a rebel convention held in Palakkad on March 5. Since then, he had distanced himself from party activities, skipping key programmes such as the LDF’s ‘Vikasana Munnetta Jatha.’

He also resigned as chairman of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, further underlining the deepening rift with the CPM leadership.

Kerala will go to the polls on April 9, with results scheduled to be declared on May 4.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman