As Intense Fight Predicted, Can UDF Candidate And Four-Time MP Premachandran Retain Kollam? (Photo on Facebook NK Premachandran)United Democratic Front (UDF)’s ally in Kerala, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) has renominated Kollam sitting MP N.K Premachandran from the party’s traditional stronghold. The UDF candidate recently landed in controversy for attending a lunch meeting with Prime Minister Modi. Following the event, the Left party in Kerala taunted Premachandran alleging that he was on his way to the saffron party.
Dismissing the criticism, Premachandran had responded that the lunch meeting with the Prime Minister was a “surprise,” and there was “no politics” discussed during the meeting. Premachandran also accused the CPM members of carrying out communal proliferation in their bid to tarnish his image.
However, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections appear to be a fierce battle between the LDF candidate and Kollam MLA Mukesh and the UDF’s Premachandran. Though the BJP is not a considerable player in the constituency, the party has nominated actor-turned-politician Krishna Kumar to take on the LDF-UDF candidates.
A veteran RSP politician, he began his political career as a student leader of the RSP and has since shouldered various responsibilities in the party functionaries. Born in 1960, The four-time MP was elected as a panchayat member in 1987 and 95. He was also elected to the Kerala legislative assembly and served as a Minister of Water Resources during the 2006-11 Congress-led UDF governance.
First elected to the lower house in 1996, Premachandran has been representing Kollam since 2014. He won the 2019 general election with a record majority of 1,48,869 votes, defeating the CPM heavyweight and current finance minister K N Balagopal.
The 63-year-old LLB graduate boasts 91 per cent attendance in the parliament during his previous tenure. The experienced parliamentarian has participated in 267 debates and has raised 272 questions. He has also introduced 18 private bills including his renowned bill on Sabarimala.
In 2019, Premachandran grabbed headlines when he introduced the first private bill 17th Lok Sabha. The bill sought to undo the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala. Against the custom, the Supreme Court had ruled that denying women of menstruating age (10-50 years) entry in Sabarimala was a “violation of fundamental rights to a group of devotees.”
However, with the LDF fielding the popular Malayalam actor-turned-politician and sitting MLA Mukesh, the electoral fight appears to be more competitive. As Premachandran is vying for his third consecutive term as an MP from Kollam, the acclaimed Malayalam actor and sitting MLA Mukesh is set to give fierce competition against the sitting MP’s prospects. Meanwhile, the BJP’s candidate, Krishnakumar, also an actor is banking on Modi’s guarantee.