THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When talks over candidates selection are progressing in New Delhi, the selection of Congress candidate in Nemom has become a never-ending puzzle for the central leadership. After rumours over the candidature of prominent leaders like Muraleedharan, Oommen Chandy and Shashi Tharoor erupted creating further controversy on the issue, the party leadership has made it clear on Friday that candidates on 10 undecided seats in Kerala will be finally decided by the party today. Nemom is one of the important constituencies in the state, where a strong triangular fight between the three fronts is expected.

The talks, discussions and conflict of interest over Nemom seat gathered momentum in the last two days. In the first phase, the names of senior leaders like N Shakthan was considered for candidature but as official declaration came from New Delhi, which said that a strong candidate will be fielded from Nemom, the constituency rose to prominence. Later K Muraleedharan was considered by the party. As Muraleedharan also informed willingness to contest, rumours erupted that the restriction imposed on MPs for candidature will be lifted in the case of Muraleedharan.

Meanwhile, as senior leaders in KPCC said that the norm on MPs will not be relaxed, the rumours erupted over K Muraleedhran came to an end temporarily. The very next day, Oommen Chandy’s name came up for candidature. News spread that Chandy has expressed willingness to contest from Nemom. Even though he rejected the news, the rumour didn’t end with it. However, as he has cleared his stand, saying that he won’t contest anywhere except Puthupally again talks over Nemom has got diverted.

History of Nemom

In 2016, V Surendran Pillai from Janatadal(U) contested as UDF’s candidate in Nemom. Even though V Sivankutty LDF’s candidate and then sitting MLA secured 59,142 votes and bettered his performance from the 2011 polls, BJP’s O Rajagopal won the polls on a low vote margin. He secured 67,813 votes. In 2011, Rajagopal has only received 43, 661 votes. Whereas the UDF candidate Surendran Pillai got only 13,860 votes in the 2016 assembly polls.

Congress party which is on ground zero at Nemom after the 2016 polls, is using all possible strategies to make a comeback. In the recently held Lok Sabha polls, Shashi Tharoor got the lowest votes from Nemom.