Excluding Ezhava community won't be beneficial for Congress: Adoor Prakash

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: UDF convenor Adoor Prakash has said that completely excluding the Ezhava community during elections will not be beneficial for the Congress. Speaking on Kaumudy TV’s Talking Point, he stressed that the community must be given proper representation when candidates are decided.

“This matter has been raised at various levels, including before the AICC. It’s not just about fielding them in a few seats. They should be in a position to win. Right now, there is only one MLA from the community. In 2016, too, I was the only one. Such a gap cannot be brushed aside as a small issue,” he said.

"During the era of the great R. Shankar, he shared a strong relationship with Mannathu Padmanabhan. In fact, it was under R Shankar’s leadership that the Congress gained the strength to contest elections independently. How was that made possible? By leading a united struggle that brought together the Ezhava community, the Nair community, and others. That history is before us. It is true that he was betrayed later. But when it comes to candidate selection, decisions must ensure that candidates are fielded in constituencies where they have a real chance of winning. There should never be a perception that the Ezhava community is being completely sidelined. The decision we have taken is to move forward in friendship with everyone," he said.

Responding to questions about debates on the chief ministerial post within the Congress, Prakash said, “Only if we secure a majority can anyone become Chief Minister or form a cabinet. First, we need to adopt strategies to gain that majority. Only then can we decide who should be Chief Minister. Simply holding discussions now is meaningless. We must proceed with caution in this matter.”