Headache for UDF in Punalur: DCC General Secretary to contest as rebel candidate against League

KOLLAM: In a fresh political development in Punalur, DCC General Secretary S E Sanjay Khan has announced that he will contest as an independent candidate in the constituency. His decision came after party leaders convinced DCC treasurer Nelson Sebastian to withdraw from contesting as a rebel candidate in protest against allotting the Punalur seat to the Indian Union Muslim League.

Sanjay Khan walked out of a meeting of Congress leaders held in Punalur to resolve the issue and publicly declared his independent candidature.

Traditionally, the Congress has contested from Punalur. In 2006, the seat was given to the CMP for M V Raghavan. Congress contested in 2011, but in 2016 and 2021, the seat was allotted to the Muslim League. This time, the League had requested the Chadayamangalam seat instead of Punalur. While Congress workers in Punalur supported this move, leaders in Chadayamangalam opposed it. With protests intensifying, the status quo was maintained, and Muslim League district president Noushad Younus was announced as the candidate from Punalur.

Following this, Congress leaders in Punalur had initially decided to field Nelson Sebastian as an independent candidate. However, senior leaders, including K C Venugopal and KPCC president Sunny Joseph, intervened and persuaded local leaders to step back.

At a meeting of Congress block office-bearers, mandalam presidents, and leaders of affiliated organisations held as per DCC instructions, a new protest emerged. When KPCC member Bharatheepuram Sasi urged leaders to work for the Muslim League candidate, more than half of the attendees, led by Sanjay Khan, protested and walked out. Soon after, Sanjay Khan announced his decision to contest independently.

Sanjay Khan, a former state vice-president of KSU and state secretary of the Youth Congress, had earlier served as a district panchayat member from the Kulathupuzha division, which falls under the Punalur assembly constituency.

“Leaders had assured that the Punalur seat would be given to Congress this time. Allotting it again to the League will weaken the Congress in Punalur and lead to the loss of traditional votes. I am contesting independently to prevent that.”
-Sanjay Khan
Kollam DCC General Secretary