Shashi Tharoor is fit to be CM, says Muraleedharan; Hibi Eden says anyone can wish for CM post

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan said that the current goal of the Congress is to overcome the challenges in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the local elections after that. He said that Shashi Tharoor is fit to be Chief Minister, but added that it does not mean that no one else is eligible for it.

"The discussion after securing the majority is not relevant now. Three-and-a-half years after the election, the party leader will be decided after taking the opinion of the MLAs. I do not think there will be any change to that practice", he said.

"A party cannot move forward by projecting a leader. It is good that a Congress leader is liked by all religious leaders. When everyone prefers to contest in the Assembly election, it will pass on a feeling that if you contest for Lok Sabha, you will not win. That is why I said about my preference in contesting the sitting seat. When everyone prefers Assembly, it will pass on a wrong message. The party block committees are trying to strengthen the party at the grassroots level", Muraleedharan said.

At the same time, Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden asked that anyone can wish for the post of Chief Minister and he can also wish for it. Hibi added that it is the party that decides the candidates in the election and now is not the time for comments.

In recent days, MPs including Shashi Tharoor, TN Prathapan and Rajmohan Unnithan have made public their intention to contest the Assembly elections. After the media discussion, more leaders responded on the issue.