Senior Congress leader PC Chacko seeks safer seats for women

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader P. C. Chacko feels women have never got their due in the party, unlike the Youth Congress leaders. The KPCC leadership never rally behind them as they are the ones "who are facing the real struggle".

Closer to the elections, especially Lok Sabha and Assembly, there is always a clamour among women leaders to get “safe and winnable” seats.

During the 2016 Assembly elections, KPCC gave a list of eight out of 140 Assembly seats to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Unfortunately, not a single women won much to their disappointment. They allege they were all “second class” seats. Mr Chacko said Youth Congress leaders who had proven their mettle had got seats and won.

“But unfortunately it is the women leaders who have always got a raw deal. It is the KPCC leadership which has to be blamed for the sorry state of affairs. They have never got the support from the senior leaders,” he told DC.

In a veiled attack on Congress Working Committee member A. K. Antony, he added that certain guidelines have to be followed in candidature selection, be it from Youth Congress or Mahila Congress.

The lone woman KPCC vice-president, Laly Vincent, who had contested unsuccessfully against finance minister Thomas Issac from Alappuzha feels politicians should have an age limit of 65 when it comes to contesting elections.

“At least 15 percent seats should be earmarked for women. Preference should be to Mahila Congress leaders who have proven their leadership qualities before newcomers,” she said.