With the announcement of the state assembly elections expected soon, differences have surfaced within the Congress party in Kerala over candidate selection. Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing discussions on selecting party candidates. Tharoor alleging that he has been deliberately excluded from the meetings being held in Thiruvananthapuram related to the candidate list.
Differences have also reportedly emerged between senior Congress leaders over the candidate selection process led by opposition leader VD Satheeshan. Several leaders have raised concerns about what they describe as a unilateral approach to deciding candidates.
At the same time, K Sudhakaran has reiterated his demand to contest from the Kannur legislative assembly constituency. Sudhakaran has reportedly decided not to travel to New Delhi for discussions with the party’s high command unless he receives assurance regarding the seat.
Sudhakaran is also said to be upset over speculation that only Adoor Prakash would receive a concession in the upcoming election. The developments have added pressure to the ongoing candidate selection process within the party. Despite the growing tensions and protest campaigns, the Kerala Pradesh Congress ommittee ({KPCC) leadership has maintained that it will not yield to pressure. The leadership has also reiterated its position that sitting Members of Parliament should not contest in the state assembly elections.
