KOCHI: Ernakulam DCC general secretary MB Muraleedharan said that the Congress leadership had not held discussions with any leader in the constituency regarding the Thrikkakara by-election. In an interview to a private news channel, Muraleedharan expressed his disgreement to the candidature. Muraleedharan said the party should have helped the family of the late Congress leader PT Thomas but not by giving a seat in the elections and that the candidature was meant for active party activists.

He said he would not continue in the Congress in this manner and was considering about leaving the party. Muraleedharan has stated that he will stay away from the Congress campaign in the Thrikkakara by-election and does not want to continue as a party office bearer.

Congress high command had earlier approved KPCC's decision regarding Uma's candidature. Opposition leader VD Satheesan said that the decision to field Uma Thomas was a unanimous one and that PT Thomas's emotional connection with the Thrikkakkara constituency was taken into consideration in the selection of the candidate. Will face the election unitedly. There will be some disagreements in the family while making a decision. That's all solved. The government will be exposed to the people. K Rail will be the subject of the campaign. VD Satheesan said that he will convince the people that development is needed and not destruction.

The decision was taken after a meeting of VD Satheesan, K Sudhakaran, Oommen Chandy, MM Hasan and Ramesh Chennithala at Indira Bhavan. The election will be held on May 31.