Candidates who contested in local body elections need not be considered; Congress MPs should not contest for assembly

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress Election Committee meeting agreed that sitting MPs should not contest the assembly elections. AICC General Secretary in charge of Kerala Deepa Dasmunshi suggested that only the possibility of victory should be used as a criterion for selecting candidates.

When senior leader KC Joseph proposed that MPs should not contest, the majority of the members of the committee supported it. There was also a suggestion that no one in particular should be given a concession in this regard. K Muraleedharan said that those who contested in the local body elections should not be considered for the assembly. However, a suggestion was made to exempt KS Sabarinadhan.

Collective representation is needed

Former KPCC president MM Hasan demanded that communal balance be maintained in the selection of candidates. The meeting also decided not to take any seats from any party without mutual consent. The seat-sharing talks with the parties should be completed within two days. The KPCC president and opposition leader VD Satheesan have been tasked with taking a decision on the candidate selection. The election committee members will hold discussions with them. The self-declaration of candidature will not be accepted. The criteria suggested by the party leadership will be the only basis for selecting candidates.

AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal and Working Committee members Shashi Tharoor and Kodikunnil Suresh did not attend the meeting. Discussions with the constituent parties regarding seat sharing will reach the final stage today and tomorrow.