Thiruvananthapuram, June 22 (IANS) Two veteran CPI-M politicians from Kannur, the party’s strongest organisational fortress in Kerala, now reflect on a journey that few had expected, moving from their Left landscape to becoming legislators by defeating their erstwhile outfit’s official candidates.

V. Kunjikrishnan and T.K. Govindan, both veteran CPI-M leaders with deep roots in Kannur politics, scripted major upsets in the recent Assembly elections, with the Congress-led UDF’s support helping them cross the line against CPI-M candidates.

IANS caught up with both legislators inside the Assembly, where they spoke about the initial challenges after their victories and how they were now finding their rhythm as elected representatives.

Kunjikrishnan, who defeated sitting CPI-M MLA T.I. Madhusoodhan in Payyannur, said the situation in his constituency and inside the House had now improved.

“Things are fine now, both in my constituency and on the floor of the House,” he said.

The veteran leader admitted that the early days after taking charge as an MLA came with practical difficulties, including the task of setting up an office to meet people and coordinate constituency work.

“I have now managed to get an office for myself in my constituency. Initially, there were issues, but now things have changed,” Kunjikrishnan told IANS.

His victory in Payyannur was one of the significant political developments from Kannur, where the CPI-M has traditionally enjoyed strong influence.

The support extended by the UDF helped him defeat the sitting Left MLA and enter the Assembly.

At Thaliparambu, T.K. Govindan produced another political upset by defeating P.K. Shyamala, wife of CPI-M state Secretary M.V. Govindan.

The constituency had earlier been represented by M.V. Govindan himself, making the result symbolically important for the Left in Kannur.

T.K.Govindan said while there were difficulties initially, he was now focused on his responsibility as an MLA.

“Yes, there were issues, but as things appear now, it seems to have changed. I will be doing my job for my people in my constituency, and I will use the Assembly for it,” he said.

The presence of the two leaders in the Assembly represents a rare political shift in Kannur, a district where the CPI-M has built a formidable cadre network over decades.

Their victories underline the role of personal equations, local acceptance and political realignments in challenging even the most entrenched party strongholds.

For Kunjikrishnan and Govindan, the battles that brought them to the Assembly are now behind them.

Their focus, they said, is on proving themselves in their new political innings.

–IANS

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