THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Soon after announcing its candidates for the assembly elections, the Congress witnessed commotion within the party followed by series of resignations. Senior leader VM Sudheeran lashed out at the leadership by saying that seats were denied to several eligible members.

Mahila Congress president Lathika Subhash and Karshaka Congress president Lal Varghese Kalpakavadi resigned from their posts citing a lack of adequate representation in the list of candidates. Resignations announced by various KPCC representatives and mandalam committee members turned into a headache for the leadership. Former DCC president P Mohanraj, who contested from
Konni in the last by-election left the party.

The party was shell shocked to see Lathika Subhash protesting before the Indira Bhavan by tonsuring her head. Lathika said that the party has been ignoring women members like her while naming those who are younger than her son as candidates. Lal Varghese, who announced his resignation by pointing out the discrimination within the Congress, said that he will inform
whether he would leave the party or not at a later stage.

Former Mahila Congress leader Ramani P Nair resigned from the post of KPCC secretary. Senior leader and former minister KC Joseph also criticised the list of candidates. KPCC general secretary Sony Sebastian resigned from the post after he was denied seat in Irikkur. UDF Kannur district chairman, 22 DCC members and 13 mandalam committee members announced their
resignation. INTUC Thiruvananthapuram district president alleged that workers and labour leaders were completely ignored in the candidate list. Mandalam presidents led by KPCC executive committee member Sudarshan threatened to resign in protest against the party's decision to field KP Anilkumar in Vattiyoorkavu. Following this, the announcement of the candidate in Vattiyoorkavu was postponed. It is learnt that PC Vishnunath is being considered in Vattiyoorkavu. Then Kallada Ramesh will be named candidate in Kundara.