Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee looks for young blood to fight polls

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the KPCC gears up for the local polls, the AICC has started looking for probable Congress candidates for the Assembly elections next year.

A senior AICC leader said that this time leaders who have reached 70-plus will not be fielded and that newcomers, youth and women will get the tickets.

The AICC is expected to call a special plenum within three months when party vice-president Rahul Gandhi is likely to be promoted as president.

A senior AICC leader said that the party would be revamped soon with major changes at the top. Tainted leaders would not be given any placement.

He added that AICC leadership was keen to see a panel of candidates for the Assembly elections in Kerala.

“We are aware of a few probable Assembly candidates who are existing MLAs. It takes only five minutes to assess a candidate who comes to the AICC headquarters at 24 Akbar Road in Delhi seeking an Assembly seat,” he said.

During the 2011 Assembly elections, out of the total 140 seats, Congress contested 82 seats with 20 newcomers. Congress leaders like Bindu Krishna (Chathannoor), K. P. Anil Kumar (Koyilandy), M. Liju (Ambalapuzha), V. K. Sreekandan (Ottapalam), Jaison Joseph (Perumbavoor) could not win from their home ground. A KPCC leader said that senior leader A. K. Antony will have a decisive role in finalising the candidates.

“The CMP, JSS and KC (B) are no longer in the ruling front of UDF. Only Socialist Janata (Democratic) and RSP have got some stake in the local body elections and later in the Assembly elections,” he said.