Veteran Malayalam actress KPAC Lalitha, who was considered as the potential LDF candidate from the Wadakkanchery assembly constituency, has dropped out of the election race.
Lalitha said on Monday that she was not keen to contest in the upcoming assembly polls in Kerala on a CPI (M) ticket. She informed the party that she would not be contesting this time and cited health issues and a busy film schedule as the reasons.
“I am not taking the decision to withdraw due to any pressure or influence. My health has deteriorated after coming from my daughter’s house in Pune. This was the reason behind the decision. I am happy that the party has considered me as a candidate. I will campaign for the LDF candidate if time and health permit,” she was quoted by The Hindu.
The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) members had organised a protest march on Sunday in Wadakancherry against the party’s proposed move to nominate the 69-year-old actress. Several posters that criticized her candidature had appeared in various parts of the constituency.
Meanwhile, CPI (M) politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan had told reporters at Kozhikode on Monday that the party would be happy to field her from Wadakancherry if she was prepared to contest. “We will only be too happy to put her up as our candidate. Candidates like Lalitha will help improve the party’s image,” he told the reporters.
