K Anusree replaces P P Divya as CPI(M) candidate in Pinarayi
P.P. Divya, the former president of the Kannur district panchayat and a CPI(M) leader, has not been given a seat to contest in the upcoming Kerala local body elections
The CPI(M) dropped her from their list of candidates for the Kannur district panchayat for the elections scheduled for December 2025.
This decision follows her removal from the post of district panchayat president in October 2024 and subsequent disciplinary action by the party in connection with the suicide case of former Kannur Additional District Magistrate (ADM) K. Naveen Babu.
Divya was accused of abetment to suicide after she publicly raised corruption charges against Babu during his farewell event, a day before he was found dead.
The party has demoted her to the branch committee level, a significant reprimand, and has decided to field other candidates, such as K. Anusree, in her place in the Pinarayi (place name) division.
The party leadership stated that while her allegations of corruption were well-intentioned, the manner in which they were made at a farewell function was inappropriate.
Party officials have stated that the decision not to field her in the elections is not directly related to the ADM case but rather due to other factors, such as the party's rule of not fielding candidates for more than two terms
Incumbent Kannur district panchayat president T.K. Ratnakumari has opted out of the contest.
Vice-president Binoy Kurian, also a CPI(M) district committee member and former Irrity area secretary, will seek the mandate to head the district panchayat. Mr Kurian earlier contested the Peravoor Assembly seat for the LDF, losing narrowly to Congress’s Sunny Joseph. He has previously served as SFI State president and DYFI district office-bearer.
Names of district secretariat members M. Surendran and K. V. Gopinath were considered, but the district secretary meeting reportedly decided in favour of Mr Kurian. The district committee meeting also endorsed the choice.
Meanwhile, the LDF’s seat-sharing talks with the CPI, the Kerala Congress(M) and the Indian National League (INL) in the district have entered the final stages.
