KOZHIKODE: Padmaja Venugopal, daughter of veteran leader K Karunakaran need not be in the fray for the Vattiyoorkavu bypolls, said her brother K Muraleedharan MP. It is the constituency that gave me political asylum and I left the place in great pain. He said that he has no special nominee to contest in Vattiyoorkavu and there will be no dispute on the candidate.

He said, “No need to consider my sister Padmaja Venugopal in the Vattiyoorkavu by-election. My personal opinion is that no one from my family should contest in the seat lying vacant after I left.”

Murali said that if she contests, allegations of family rule will be raised. Meantime, he supported Shanimol Usman contesting from Aroor. She performed well in the Lok Sabha elections. The party is also of the opinion that her performance should be accepted. The UDF will wrest the Aroor constituency from the LDF, he said.

The parties are holding talks for the candidates to be fielded in five places where bypolls are held.

Meantime, BJP district leadership wants Kummanam Rajashekaran to contest from Vattiyoorkavu. A decision will be taken at the core committee to be convened in Kochi today.