<p>Thiruvananthapuram: In the first<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/kerala-assembly-elections-2026"> Assembly election in Kerala</a> after the death of legendary communist leader V S Achuthanandan, his once man Friday A Suresh is making a bid to tear into CPI(M) stronghold Malampuzha in Palakkad which elected Achuthanandan for four times in a row, including his term as Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011.</p><p>Suresh, who was among the key aides of Achuthanandan was expelled from the CPI(M) on charges of leaking out party secrets, is now contesting as a Congress candidate. </p> .DH Interview | Projection of some leaders as CM candidate of Congress is 'unfair', says V D Satheesan .<p>So far the CPI(M) did not taste defeat at Malampuzha and always maintained a comfortable margin too. </p><p>Suresh, who served as Achuthanandan's personal assistant, was literally Achuthanandan's shadow while he was the Chief Minister and leader and opposition. Hence he is a very familiar figure. </p> .<p>The Congress is indeed experimenting with him at Malampuzha where the Congress was pushed to the third place in the last two elections owing to BJP's surge.</p> .<p>Congress camps hope that Suresh's candidacy may help in attracting votes of VS's loyalists to the Congress and bring the party at least to the second place.</p><p>But the chances of the BJP gaining advantage from a split in the CPI(M) votes could not be ruled out.</p><p>While sitting MLA A Prabhakaran is again seeking mandate as LDF candidate, BJP prominent district leader C Krishnakumar, who was the runner up in the last two elections, is seeking mandate as NDA candidate.</p>
<p>Thiruvananthapuram: In the first<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/kerala-assembly-elections-2026"> Assembly election in Kerala</a> after the death of legendary communist leader V S Achuthanandan, his once man Friday A Suresh is making a bid to tear into CPI(M) stronghold Malampuzha in Palakkad which elected Achuthanandan for four times in a row, including his term as Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011.</p><p>Suresh, who was among the key aides of Achuthanandan was expelled from the CPI(M) on charges of leaking out party secrets, is now contesting as a Congress candidate. </p> .DH Interview | Projection of some leaders as CM candidate of Congress is 'unfair', says V D Satheesan .<p>So far the CPI(M) did not taste defeat at Malampuzha and always maintained a comfortable margin too. </p><p>Suresh, who served as Achuthanandan's personal assistant, was literally Achuthanandan's shadow while he was the Chief Minister and leader and opposition. Hence he is a very familiar figure. </p> .<p>The Congress is indeed experimenting with him at Malampuzha where the Congress was pushed to the third place in the last two elections owing to BJP's surge.</p> .<p>Congress camps hope that Suresh's candidacy may help in attracting votes of VS's loyalists to the Congress and bring the party at least to the second place.</p><p>But the chances of the BJP gaining advantage from a split in the CPI(M) votes could not be ruled out.</p><p>While sitting MLA A Prabhakaran is again seeking mandate as LDF candidate, BJP prominent district leader C Krishnakumar, who was the runner up in the last two elections, is seeking mandate as NDA candidate.</p>