THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The controversy surrounding the Vattiyoorkavu MLA office, which began soon after the BJP came to power in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, continues. Former Director General of Police (DGP) and Sasthamangalam BJP councilor R. Srilekha had come forward and demanded that VK Prashanth, who was working in the corporation building, vacate the office. Kowdiar councilor and former MLA KS Sabarinathan criticized Prashanth in this controversy. Sabarinathan questioned why VK Prashanth was renting a corporation building and running his office there when the MLA already had a room in a hostel. Prashanth also realizes that this move against him is part of a plan to win back Vattiyoorkavu. Vattiyoorkavu is an area where the BJP has strong roots. The BJP came first in the local body elections here. The CPM regained the Congress-held Vattiyoorkavu seat after delimitation in 2011 through VK Prashanth, who was then the mayor of the capital.
Prashanth led the CPM from third place to a majority of over 14,000 votes. In 2021, when his majority exceeded 20,000, Congress slipped to third place in Vattiyoorkavu. The Congress leadership believes that the current controversy has damaged the image of popular MLA VK Prashanth and that if a good candidate is fielded, the constituency will tilt towards the right wing. The Congress district leadership is putting forward two names for this. MLA K Muralidharan is being considered first. He had previously announced that he would not contest the election and would accept the party’s decision.
If K. Muralidharan does not contest, KS Sabarinathan, former MLA of Aruvikkara and current municipal councilor, will be considered. Sabarinathan is also being considered for the Thiruvananthapuram Central seat. This comes after VS Sivakumar expressed interest in contesting Neyyattinkara. The names of Sreelekha and Padmaja Venugopal are being discussed within the BJP.
MLA office dispute just beginning, Congress considering two names for Vattiyoorkavu seat
