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Oommen Chandy unsure of heading UDF

Mr Chandy told reporters that he had not given his full consent, and he had conveyed it to the AICC leadership.

Thiruvananthapuram: The UDF could not take a formal decision on former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy continuing as UDF chairperson as he was not willing.

The UDF meeting held at KPCC office here on Wednesday decided to leave it to the AICC leadership to take a final call.

Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala later told reporters that everyone including allies was keen to see Mr Chandy in the chair.

At the meeting, Muslim League leader P.K. Kunhalikutty proposed him and KC (J) chairperson Johnny Nellore seconded. Though all the allies congratulated Mr Chandy by shaking hands with him, he backtracked.

Sources close to him said he wanted to keep away taking up moral responsibility for the Assembly poll debacle. Mr Chandy told reporters that he had not given his full consent, and he had conveyed it to the AICC leadership. He hoped Congress president Sonia Gandhi would understand it.

Meanwhile, the UDF allies took a dig at the KPCC leadership citing newspaper reports that they were keen to have a policy formation committee so as to revive the party.

“There are different groups in the Congress. But when it comes to sidelining allies, all the three senior leaders are one. Also, how did Congress manage to contest in 87 seats when there were only 82 in 2011. No other ally had been allocated more seats, and the result is known,” said KC (M) leader Joy Abraham in the meeting. Mr Nellore also reacted emotionally citing that he was humiliated by denying a seat.

He said he decided to continue in UDF only after Oommen Chandy publicly said Congress had not given him justice and had gone wrong. JDU leaders Varghese George and Sheikh P. Haris demanded that UDF parliament constitution committee should be revamped as most of them have been serving in the same post for more than 25 years.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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