KOTTAYAM: The Kerala Congress (M) has decided to inquire into the electoral rout suffered by the party in Tiruvalla constituency. The probe, to be conducted by senior KC (M) leader and Changanassery MLA C.F. Thomas, is thought to be a move by the party to corner the Congress.
Though the KC(M) considered its defeat in Poonjar and Ettumanur and the erosion of votes in Pala as equally embarrassing, it zeroed in on Tiruvalla due to the role played by Congress leader P.J. Kurian in spoiling the victory chances of Mr Joseph M. Puthussery.
The KC (M) leadership thinks that Mr Kurian’s attack on the candidature of Mr Puthussery had contributed to his defeat. According to the KC (M) sources, on the basis of the report from Mr C.F. Thomas, the party will raise the issue with the UDF. “Further discussions will be carried out in the UDF on the basis of the report,” said sources.
Mr Thomas told DC, “we have decided to conduct an inquiry into the factors that led to the defeat of the party candidate in Tiruvalla. There will be no probe into the defeats in other constituencies,” he said. The steering committee had criticised Mr Kurian for creating controversies on the eve of the elections. The committee alleged that the Congress leaders did nothing to control Mr Kurian.
