Congress may field fresh faces in Mavelikara, Pathanamthitta constituencies

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state congress leadership still haven’t zeroed in on the candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Although KPCC president K. Sudhakaran reiterated in the screening committee meeting about his disinterest in contesting, the list of candidates being forwarded to the Central Election Committee includes sitting MPs in 15 places including Kannur.

The Central Election Committee will also decide the candidates for Wayanad, Alappuzha and Kannur constituencies. KPCC and UDF are demanding Rahul Gandhi’s return to Wayanad. Meanwhile, Gandhi is still keeping alive other options including Telangana’s Nalgonda where the situation is conducive for Congress.

Sudhakaran, who said that he is not interested in contesting in Kannur, is raising the demand that KPCC General Secretary K. Jayant contest in his place; much to the displeasure of other congress leaders. Youth Congress leader VP Abdul Rasheed and Amrita Ramakrishnan are also under consideration in Kannur.

There were also concerns about the plummeting popularity of sitting MPs in both Mavelikara and Pathanamthitta consistencies. The screening committee meeting chaired by Harish Choudhary was attended by members Deepa Dasmunsi, Jignesh Mevani, V.D. Satheesan, K. Sudhakaran and others. The Leader of the Opposition and the party president will soon leave for Delhi to attend the Central Election Committee.