Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress will start official-level talks on the Rajya Sabha candidate after the Chengannur result is known on Thursday. Congress leader and Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Prof. P. J. Kurien, whose tenure ends on July 1, hopes to get another term.
The terms of KC(M)’s Joy Abraham and CPM's C. P. Narayanan also end on July 1. The KC (M) seat will go to the LDF this time owing to its strength in the Assembly. The UDF will have to be content with one seat. Mr Kurien, 77, had been elected to Lok Sabha six consecutive terms from 1980 to 1999 and nominated to Rajya Sabha twice in 2005 and 2012.
However, there is a strong demand among the youth to replace him. A top ‘A’ group leader told DC that the KPCC leadership may not support Mr Kurien for a third term.
“The KPCC president will hold a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee after the by-election result to choose the Congress candidate,” the leader said.
The hopefuls include AICC general secretary in-charge of New Delhi, P. C. Chacko, PAC member Benny Behanan and prominent ‘I’ group leader Babu Prasad who was fielded against veteran M. P. Veerendra Kumar. The lone woman leader in the PAC, Shanimol Usman, is also being considered for Rajya Sabha. She was the first woman Congress leader from the state to become the AICC secretary. Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala favours Shanimol Usman along with his trusted lieutenant Babu Prasad, a source said.
The notification for the Rajya Sabha election will be issued on June 4 and the election will be held on June 21.
