KANNUR: The KPCC on Saturday expelled two local Congress leaders, P.K. Ragesh and K.R. Abdul Khader, who had threatened to contest against the UDF candidates in the district. Mr Ragesh was earlier expelled when he contested as a rebel in Azhikode in the corporation election. But later he was taken back into the party.
DCC president K. Surendran told reporters here that the action was taken as a last resort. The two leaders and their supporters, Pradeep Kumar and Kayakkl Rahul, were expelled from the primary membership of the party for six years.
Mr Surendran said that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had met Mr Ragesh and promised to address his grievances. But he was adamant that Kannur deputy mayor C. Sameer should be removed from the post immediately and he be elected to the post. But such demands were not practical, said Mr Surendran.
Mr Ragesh had held conventions in various places and announced that he would contest as UDF rebel in Azhikode and also field another candidate in Kannur. The Congress also removed the party’s Irikoor mandalam president K.R. Abdul Khader from the post for his decision to contest against Rural Development Minister K.C. Joseph in Irikoor.
