Will doors be closed for Shafi and Sudhakaran? MPs barred from contesting assembly polls

NEW DELHI: With only months left for the assembly elections, reports say permission may not be given for Congress MPs to contest. The AICC's assessment is that there is no need for MPs to contest presently. This is a setback for Shafi Parambil MP and K Sudhakaran MP. When the Congress decided to field youth in Palakkad, Shafi's name was the first to heard. Sudhakaran claiming to contest in Kannur was also widely discussed. The leadership took a new decision amidst this.

The Congress is going to face the assembly elections this time with the confidence of the unexpected victory they got in the local body elections. The Congress had earlier hinted that they would field celebrities. Meantime, a section is of the stand that trying to become MLAs after quitting MP posts will be used as a propaganda weapon by the opponents.

If one or two MPs are given a concession to contest in the assembly elections, there is a possibility that more people will make claims and there will be a dispute. If the contestants win en masse, a mini-Lok Sabha election will be required. Instead, there will be another headache of finding candidates. That is why the argument that if the MPs remain as MPs, this headache will not arise. The Congress's National Election Committee should clarify this issue further.

However, Rajmohan Unnithan MP responded that there is no need for MPs to contest the assembly polls. He told the media this morning that he is not interested in contesting for the assembly and that other MPs should not be allowed to contest. 'When there are many leaders who have the potential to contest and win in Kerala, why are MPs unnecessarily dragged into the fray by giving them seats. Everyone should understand the importance of an MP in national politics. Why are some leaders trying to come to Kerala when the fight against Prime Minister Narendra Modi is intensifying every day. I will be the first to welcome the new decision of the high command,' said Rajmohan Unnithan.