Airs dissenting voice against Uma, Chandy’s one call contained the uprising in congress

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The congress leadership from the beginning decided to field Uma Thomas, wife of late P T Thomas for the bypolls in Thrikkakara. After the end of the marathon discussions held from yesterday morning, the Congress had in mind only the name of Uma. They sent it for the high command’s approval. This is the first time in the recent history of the state Congress that a single name has been sent to the high command and a decision on the candidature taken so quickly.

Opposition leader V D Satheesan called 40 members of the KPCC selection committee separately on the phone and sought their opinion on the candidature, without attending the platinum jubilee functions of the INTUC yesterday morning. KPCC chief K Sudhakaran and Satheesan held talks in the morning. In the afternoon, KPCC chief, opposition leader, UDF Convener M M Hasan, Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala met and decided to submit only Uma's name for the approval of the high command. Although the names of Dominic Presentation and Deepti Mary Varghese were mentioned in the preliminary discussions, Uma's name came to the fore. Almost everyone supported Uma. It has been decided to propose only the name of one for the candidature and the high command will announce after approving it soon, informed Sudhakaran.

In the meanwhile, Oommen Chandy telephoned former MLA Dominic Presentation, who aired a dissenting voice against Uma, yesterday morning and pacified him.

Thrikkakara a firm constituency, says Sudhakaran

Thrikkakara is a stronghold of the UDF, said Sudhakaran. There has been a beneficial decision for the party there. The LDF claims that they will win Thrikkakara and reach 100 seats. It is up to the people to decide. Sudhakaran also said that the alliance between Twenty20 and AAP is not taken into account.

Opposition leader V D Satheesan said the UDF will win with a larger majority than Thomas. The constituency has an emotional connection with PT. The election will discuss one year of government’s functioning including the Silver Line. He said the election results would be an assessment of the government and the opposition.