K K Shailaja says CPM internal discussion had flagged Peravoor as a tough seat

Kozhikode: CPM central committee member K K Shailaja said that opinions were raised within the party during candidate selection discussions itself that winning from Peravoor assembly constituency would be extremely difficult."During the discussions, opinions were raised that Peravoor was a difficult seat to win. The constituency has been held by UDF for the past 15 years. Even so, many believed that despite the challenges, the seat could still be wrested," Shailaja said. The sitting Mattannur MLA was fielded against KPCC president Sunny Joseph in Peravoor, where she lost by 14,453 votes.Responding to questions about former CM Pinarayi Vijayan being chosen as opposition leader in the assembly despite LDF suffering one of its worst defeats in recent times, Shailaja said CPM does not function in that manner. She added that parliamentary work was considered an integral part of party work."Vijayan is the politburo member among the party MLAs and it would be inappropriate to appoint another person as opposition leader," she said.Shailaja further stated that once the CPM takes a decision, it is considered final and is implemented collectively."There may have been differing opinions, but once a final decision is taken, even those who had opposed it will work towards implementing it," she said.