THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The exclusion of backward communities from the list of Congress candidates for the assembly elections has been strong since 2006. During the heyday of the Congress, in the 1980s and 90s, the party provided 35 to 40 seats to backward communities, including the Ezhavas. Back then, the number of MLAs belonging to backward communities was never less than 30.

Although the I and the A groups fought hard under the leadership of K. Karunakaran and AK Antony, the party always maintained social justice in deciding the candidates. Special care was given to the backward and downtrodden sections. This situation continued almost until the 2001 assembly elections

However, things changed by 2006. Oommen Chandy became the leader of the Congress Assembly party. Oommen Chandy became the leader of the Congress party in the state assembly and Chennithala became KPCC president. Gradually group and individual interests prevailed in candidate selection. People from the backward communities were ignored. Complaints were raised that competence and social justice were being neglected.

Backward sections of the party, who have been neglected, say that the situation has worsened with each subsequent assembly election and has accelerated the collapse of the Congress. They lament that there are no backward leaders in the party now who can question this injustice and that the current group leaders are not allowing such people to grow.

History of exclusion of backward communities

Year - In Congress - UDF - LDF - Others

The seat won by the Ezhavas

2001 - 24 - 99 - 40 -1 (M.A. Waheed, Independent)

2006 - 17 - 42 - 98 ..........

2011 - 16 - 72 - 68 ..........

2016 - 11 - 47 - 91 - 2 (BJP, PC George)

2021 - 9 -? -? -?