Thiruvananthapuram: Ever since KPCC general secretary Shantha Jayaram was removed as Ottapalam candidate, confusion prevailed in the local party circles. While a section of leaders was against her, the other group preferred to see former AICC secretary Shanimol Usman as the candidate. KPCC leadership recommended her name to the AICC, already in a dilemma as they could not provide her a seat in Alappuzha district.
Ms Jayaram had contested in Shoranur unsuccessfully in the 2011 Assembly elections. She was defeated by CPM’s K. S. Saleeha by more than 13, 000 votes. Though she had started her campaigning in Ottapalam, local leadership was not happy with her candidature. KPCC leadership grabbed this opportunity to replace her.
Ms Usman was considered first for Ambalapuzha and later Aroor, which was given to JDU and Congress candidate C. R. Jayaprakash respectively at the nth hour. Party sources told DC that Ms Usman could not kick off her campaign the way the party expected.
This led KPCC president to hold a meeting at KPCC office here today which was attended by Palakkad DCC secretary P. Rajaratnam and UDF Ottapalam chair P. S. Abdul Khader. After the meeting, Sudheeran told reporters that whatever issues were there, it has been solved amicably.
“We held talks with the local leaders and issues have been sorted out. Accordingly they have agreed to work for Ms Usman's win,” said Mr Sudheeran. The local leaders were peeved at ‘importing’ an outside leader and were not keen to work for Ms Usman.
When she brought this to the notice of the party chief, he immediately swung into action which saw the issue being amicably settled after the talks with the local leaders.
