NEW DELHI: Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam expressed displeasure in competing from Kollam for the Lok Sabha polls. Malappuram is better than Kollam for me. However, the party is forcing me to contest from Kollam, he said.

Kannanthanam said, “I don’t want to contest polls. If necessary, I’ll contest either from Pathanamthitta, Kottayam or Thrissur. I had requested not to consider me for the polls as I have three and a half year term in the Rajya Sabha. But the party is forcing me to contest and is putting pressure on me to be in the race from Kollam”.

Kannanthanam was directed to contest from Ernakulam when Sreedharan Pillai’s name was heard in Pathanamthitta. Kannanthanam had sent a letter to BJP chief Amit Shah asking him not to consider him in other constituencies.

Meantime, Shoba Surendran and M T Ramesh are of the stand that if they don’t get their desired constituencies, they won’t be in the fray. The central leadership had clarified earlier that major changes will be needed in the list submitted by the state faction. The BJP is in a dilemma currently as they are not in a position to announce the names of candidates.