THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress is playing for time and has put off discussions on the candidates’ list for the Lok Sabha elections till the Election Commission announces the dates. This has become necessary following the roadblocks in the seat talks with the UDF allies and the criticism levelled against the KPCC for ignoring party president Rahul Gandhi’s suggestion to get feedback from the grassroots’ level on the candidates.
The first meeting of the 30-member KPCC election committee held here on Monday, which was chaired by general secretary in-charge of the state Mukul Wasnik, asked the DCCs to provide a three-member panel for 13 constituencies, excluding the seven sitting seats of the Congress.
The Pathanamthitta DCC, which avoided sitting MP Anto Antony from its list, came under severe attack from the leaders, including Mr K. Muraleedharan MLA.
“Opposition Leader Ra-mesh Chennithala, working president K. Sudhak-aran and Mr V. D. Sathee-san MLA also rallied beh-ind Anto Antony,” said a committee member.
The DCC leaders said they had not been asked to recommend the sitting MP’s name in the panel. They alleged that Mr Rahul Gandhi’s proposal to get the views from the grassroots’ level was ‘torpedoed’ by the KPCC leadership.
A sub-committee comprising Mukul Wasnik, KPCC president Mulla-pally Ramachandran, Co-ngress Legislative Party leader Ramesh Chennit-hala and CWC member Oommen Chandy was formed to finalise the candidates’ list. Former KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran wanted CWC member P. C. Chacko also in the sub-committee while Mr P. J. Kurien sought the inclusion of UDF convener Benny Behanan. Mr Chacko had a heated argument with Mr Satheesan who said that there was no need for a sub-committee and that the election committee itself should discuss the list. Mr Aryadan Mu-hammed said no particular community should be given preference in Way-anad where all communities have a strong presence. The committee will meet again only after the bilateral talks with the UDF allies and the announcement of the election dates. The next round of talks with Kerala Congress (Mani) will be held at Aluva Government Guest House on Tuesday.
