THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: MP K Muraleedharan has welcomed the Rajya Sabha candidature of Mahila Congress president advocate J B Mather. The decision taken by the high command is appropriate, he said.

He also criticized KC Venugopal indirectly. ‘Those who know Hindi should come to the national leadership, I’m not fluent in Hindi, that’s why I’m not focusing there, Muraleedharan said. Chennithala is fluent in Hindi, he added.

Along with Mather’s name, the KPCC leadership had also submitted the names of UDF convener M M Hasan and KPCC executive member M Liju. J B Mather was selected by the high command from a panel of three. J B Mather will be the first woman from Kerala to become a member of the Rajya Sabha since 1980.

J B Mather also has the distinction of being the first Muslim woman from Kerala to be nominated to Rajya Sabha. This is a recognition for the women and a mandate to protect the constitution, said Mather.