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Chengannur bypolls: Probe drubbing, asks D Vijayakumar

On Thursday, Vijayakumar demanded that the KPCC leadership should examine closely what led to his poll debacle in Chengannur.

Thiruvananthapuram: D. Vijayakumar has demanded that the KPCC leadership probe what led to his losing the Chengannur by-election. On the eve of the counting, Vijayakumar had alleged that the Congress camp was not campaigning unitedly. But a section of Congress leaders claimed that Vijayakumar’s detractors within the party had taken revenge against him as he had allegedly resorted to rebel activities against previous Congress candidates in Chengannur ever since the Assembly seat was denied to him from 1991 onwards.

Vijayakumar had to make way for Sobhana George (1991, 1996 and 2001) and P. C. Vishnunath (2006 and 2011). It should be recalled that at the last high power Political Affairs Committee held at Indira Bhavan during early March, the KPCC leadership was informed by their central leadership that nothing less than a “winnable” candidate should be fielded in Chengannur so as to wrest the seat from the CPM. Accordingly, 66-year old Vijayakumar was chosen as the Congress candidate. But things did not work out in favour of him on May 28, the day of the polling.

On Thursday, Vijayakumar demanded that the KPCC leadership should examine closely what led to his poll debacle in Chengannur. “Congress has limitations when it comes to election campaigning. Unfortunately Congress is not a cadre party where the limitations were reflected compared to the election campaign of the CPM and BJP”, said a visibly shaken Vijayakumar. He added that he respected the voters mandate in Chengannur, but maintained that his rival CPM candidate had taken advantage of his LDF Government being in power.

Vijayakumar alleged that the CPM brought in ministers and MLAs for the campaigning and made false promises before the voters to win the elections. He did not hide his disappointment claiming that the Congress leadership had not worked efficiently towards his victory. “I respect the people’s mandate in Chengannur but I must also say that the LDF has used the advantage of being in power here. They brought in ministers and MLAs for the campaigning and made false promises to the people to win the elections”, added Vijayakumar.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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