V.S. Achuthanandan’s Son V.A. Arunkumar Likely to Contest Assembly Elections

V.A. Arunkumar, son of the late former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, is reportedly being considered as a Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate for the upcoming assembly elections. Indications suggest that the Alappuzha and Palakkad district committees have put forward his name, leading to considerations for him to contest from either the Kayamkulam or Malampuzha constituencies.

Arunkumar currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD) and also holds temporary charge as the Director of the institution.

Historically, the Malampuzha constituency was a stronghold for V.S. Achuthanandan, who was elected to the assembly from there between 2001 and 2016. However, sources suggest that the Kayamkulam constituency is now receiving primary consideration for Arunkumar’s candidature. The incumbent MLA for Kayamkulam is U. Pratibha, who has successfully contested and won from the constituency twice.

The party’s internal discussions indicate that his non-membership in the party will not be a hindrance to his candidacy. The CPM leadership is reportedly hopeful that Arunkumar’s entry into the electoral fray could trigger a “V.S. effect,” leveraging his late father’s legacy and popularity among voters.

When contacted by Mathrubhumi, V.A. Arunkumar acknowledged hearing about the news regarding his potential candidacy but stated that he was unaware of any specific details.