Kerala assembly elections: Activist Sunny M Kapicadu open to contesting as UDF face in Vaikom

Kottayam: The name of dalit activist Sunny M Kapicadu is doing the rounds as a surprise UDF candidate in the Vaikom assembly constituency in Kottayam. The constituency has been a CPI forte for decades.

According to Congress sources, Kapicadu conveyed his interest to opposition leader V D Satheesan. However, a final decision is yet to be made.


Meanwhile, Kapicadu told a news channel that UDF is actively considering him as an independent candidate for the assembly elections. He also said that some UDF leaders communicated this to him. "The Pinarayi Vijayan-led govt took wrong decisions and shied away from taking decisions at crucial times. This is an important political activity," he said.

Kapicadu also said that the only option before him for this is the UDF. "So, if they leave an offer before us, it has to be accepted. I consider this a political responsibility," he said.

Regarding the claims of an ideological shift, Kapicadu said that he is an Ambedkarite and he will not leave his ideology when he cooperates with the UDF. "Uniting for a common cause is the politics of frontal politics," he said.

In the 16 assembly elections held so far, CPI has won 13 times from Vaikom while Congress has clinched the constituency three times. The last Congress candidate to win from Vaikom was K K Balakrishnan in 1991. The constituency has reserved for scheduled castes since 1977.

Currently, C K Asha represents the constituency. This is her secnd consecutive term.

CPI fielding her for a third time is highly possible if a surprise candidate like Kapicadu is fielded by the UDF. The UDF is also considering K Binimon of Congress, who is the former president of Thalayazhom panchayat, and Vijayamma Babu of Congress, who won from Velloor division of the Kottayam district panchayat. CPI is also considering their district executive committee member P Pradeep.