Congress Nominates Sitting MP Adoor Prakash From Attingal Constituency (image-X/AdoorPrakash)From 2009 until 2014, Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) candidate A Sampath had been winning from the Attingal Lok Sabha seat. But in the 2109 general elections, things changed. Congress candidate Adoor Prakash captured the seat by winning 38 percent of the votes, defeating Sampath, who had received 34 percent of the votes.
Prakash’s victory marked the end of the 28-year-old dominance of the Left in the constituency. Previously believed to be the citadel of the Left, Adoor Prakash’s triumph in the Attingal Lok Sabha constituency came as a shock to the Left Democratic Front (LDF). In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the constituency is set to witness a triangular contest between Congress’ Prakash, the BJP’s V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs, and CPI-M candidate and two-time sitting Varkala MLA V Joy.
Adoor Prakash, born in 1952, entered the world of politics in his college days by joining the student politics of Kerala Students Union (KSU). In the years 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016, the Congress candidate was elected to the Kerala legislative assembly from Konni constituency. From 2011–12, he served as the Minister of Health and Coir in Oommen Chandy’s cabinet. He held the post of Minister of Land Revenue in 2012.
The sitting MP, along with a section of senior Congress leaders, including former chief minister Oommen Chandy, was accused of sexual abuse by a woman entrepreneur. After investigating the complaint for 15 months, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a closure report, citing a lack of evidence against Prakash to substantiate the allegations in 2022.
Prakash was also among the 141 opposition members, including Shashi Tharoor, Supriya Sule, and more, who were suspended during the infamous Lok Sabha session last year after questions were raised demanding answers from Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the security lapse in Parliament.
Prakash graduated with a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from Thiruvanthapuram’s Sree Narayana College and Kerala Law Academy, respectively.
Attingal Lok Sabha constituency comprises Varkala, Chirayinkeezhu, Nedumangad, Vamanapuram, Aruvikkara, and Kattakkada as its assembly segments.