THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With just four days left before the submission of nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections, Congress is quarelling over the candidate selection. It has been rumoured that the Congress High Command nominated AICC secretary Srinivasan Krishnan, but Congress leaders in Kerala denied it. It was also rumoured that M. Liju's name was suggested by K Sudhakaran. K Muraleedharan and others sent a letter to the High Command requesting them not to consider leaders who have already failed in elections. 'A' group also favours this. In the last election, Liju lost to H Salam in Ambalappuzha.

A discussion will be held at the KPCC headquarters on Friday to determine the candidature criteria and a panel will be prepared accordingly. The panel will then be send to High command and they will announce the candidate.

The leaders in Kerala expressed their dissatisfaction when Srinavasan's name came up for candidacy. The suggestion made at the time of KPCC office bearers meeting was that those who have not yet been given positions or opportunity to contest in the party should be considered. The complaint is that Liju is being considered as candidate by disregarding all thse.

K Sudhakaran said that the defeat in the elections should not be seen as a disqualification for the Rajya Sabha. It is also noteworthy that many who are aspiring for the seats now have lost last time they contested for the Assembly elections. If they decide to replace the candidates who have failed, then one among M M Hassan, Sony Sebastian, Jason Joseph and AICC spokeswoman Shema Mohammed are likely to be selected.