Rahul Gandhi steps in to end Kerala crisis

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has stepped in to resolve the differences among the Kerala  leaders over the candidates’ list. He held separate talks with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on the contentious issues, including Mr Sudheeran’s demand to deny seats to  five sitting MLAs – K. C. Joseph (Irikoor), K. Babu (Trippunithura), Benny Behanan (Thrikkakara), Adoor Prakash (Knn) and A. T. George (Prassala).  However, Mr Chandy said that if they were kept out, he   wouldn’t mind opting out of the fray.

Mr Chandy expressed his feelings to Mr Mukul Vasnik, AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala.  Mr Sudheeran said there was no change in his stand. Mr Chennithala mantained that the issues  would be settled soon.

“Both A.K. Antony and the AICC leadership are worried of the developments,  especially  the meagre number of seats being allocated to Youth Congress and women.  The all-India national Youth Congress leadership had provided a list of 11 candidates while  the  KPCC leadership is ready with another list.

Out of the 49 approved seats, there are only three women candidates-- P. K. Jayalakshmy (Mananthaadi), K. A. Thulasi (Chelakkara), both reserved,   and Amritha Ramakrishnan (Kalliyasserry).

Meanwhile, the Youth Congress leadership has expressed  strong protest against fielding KPCC general secretary T. Saratchandra Prasad from Vamanapuram,   which is thought to be the wrong seat for him.  

Local Congress leaders and YC leadership alleged that Mr Saratchandra Prasad had sheltered a sex scandal- accused in the MLA quarters and one of the alleged persons belonging to Vamanapuram had committed  suicide.

Though  only informal talks took place separately among the three senior leaders in Kerala House on Wednesday, many  Congress seat aspirants  camping there are awaiting the outcome of the screening committee meeting to be held on Thursday.  

The central election committee meeting would be held on April 1 which would be attended by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi.