Letter controversy engulfs Palakkad

PALAKKAD: A letter controversy is putting both the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Congress in a tough spot in Kerala. At the centre of the issue are two letters: one sent by the DCC leadership to the Congress high command regarding the candidate selection in Palakkad, and another released by BJP leader Sandeep Varier against the LDF.

The letter sent by the DCC president to the high command states that K Muraleedharan should be named the UDF candidate in Palakkad. This letter was given to the AICC leadership before Rahul Mamkootathil was named the UDF candidate. This has put the UDF camp on the defensive. The leadership suspects that there is a planned move behind the release of the letter. It was earlier alleged that a group comprising the opposition leader and Shafi Parambil MP had worked together to make Rahul Mamkootathil the candidate. P Sarin and AK Shanib, who left Congress, had also alleged this.

Rahul Mankootathil responded that the "letter bomb" was ineffective and that its release would not stop his success. He stated that the letter will not cause any disturbance within the UDF camp. Meanwhile, K Muraleedharan clarified that there is no need for further discussion on the letter. The DCC president said that everything else becomes irrelevant once the candidate is announced.

The Congress leadership has come forward explaining that the letter is a creation of the CPM. The letter was fabricated by CPM and does not bear the signature of the DCC President, responded Deepadas Munshi, All India Congress Committee General Secretary in charge of Kerala affairs.

CPM takes up letter controversy CPM has taken up the letter issue. CPM state secretary MV Govindan alleged that opposition leader VD Satheesan was behind the decision not to make K Muraleedharan a candidate. Govindan also claimed that Shafi Parambil and V.D. Satheesan jointly rejected the DCC's request.