THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When all senior Congress leaders shied away from contesting the Lok Sabha election in Vadakara, giving the feeling that the party’s self-confidence was oozing out, there came Congress MLA K Muraleedharan, most unexpectedly, agreeing to take on CPM giant P Jayarajan. Now the spotlight is on Muraleedharan, who is the populist Vattiyoorkavu MLA and Congress’ campaign committee president, for having agreed to take up the challenge.

Though it is a prestige issue for the Congress in Vadakara, the party found it difficult to find out an effective candidate to be pitted against Jayarajan. It was then the crowd-puller Muraleedharan came forward dramatically to save the face of the party.

As the high command insisted on a strong candidate against Jayarajann, the Muslim League also interfered for the same, resulting in the above turn of events. Top League leaders called up Mullapally Ramachancdran and asked him to contest from Vadakara. The RMP leadership that is supporting Congress also asked for the leadership to field Mullapally, Sudheeran or Muraleedharan from Vadakara. Though Mullapally contacted Sudheeran, he was not ready for the contest and finally the Muraleedharan became the choice after he also agreed to contest from Vadakara.