DCC recommended K Muraleedharan as candidate in Palakkad; letter written to AICC comes out

PALAKKAD: It has been found that the Palakkad DCC had initially recommended K Muraleedharan as the UDF candidate for the upcoming by-election in the Palakkad Assembly constituency. A letter written by DCC president A Thankappan to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) requesting that Muraleedharan be fielded as the candidate has come out. Only one part of the two-page letter has been made public. The letter states that

Muraleedharan should be fielded in Palakkad to defeat the BJP. The letter also states that this was a unanimous decision taken by the DCC officials. The name of Rahul Mamkootathil is not mentioned in the published letter.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader VD Satheesan said that he does not know anything about the letter. "Several names were raised during the candidate selection process. The decision was taken after considering various factors. It is now a closed chapter. The final decision was taken after considering the general demand to give opportunities to youth and women," Satheesan said.

VK Sreekandan MP also clarified that the letter was no longer relevant. "It was only an opinion raised within a democratic party. Everyone in the party stands united," he said.