THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress to field Oommen Chandy's daughter Achu Oommen in Kottayam Lok Sabha seat. The Congress leadership says that the party is considering this matter very seriously. The record majority won by Chandi Oommen in the Pudupally by-election and the success of the Congress when Achu Oommen was unnecessarily dragged by the left cyber comrades during the campaign is what lead the leadership to such a thought.

Kottayam is the seat contested by Kerala Congress M but Jose K Mani is now in LDF. The Congress leadership says that the Joseph wing of the Kerala Congress has staked claim for the Kottayam Lok Sabha seat, but no assurance has been given to the Joseph wing in this regard. There is a sentiment within the party leadership as well as among the ranks that the Congress should take back the Kottayam seat.

The Congress leadership may not attach much importance to the Joseph faction even if it comes up with a controversy. It has been decided that there should be no unnecessary compromise with anyone within the front regarding the Lok Sabha elections. Compromise would only be with the Muslim League. The leadership has decided to move ahead by telling other parties that the Congress should have MPs in maximum seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

The Congress leadership is unofficially taking the decision that only the Congress, Muslim League and RSP should contest the Lok Sabha elections from within the front. The Congress may also come up with a formula where the Joseph faction of the Kerala Congress, which is making a strong claim for Kottayam, can be limited to the promise of a Rajya Sabha seat.

It is almost certain that Kottayam sitting MP Thomas Chazhikadan himself will be fielded by LDF through Kerala Congress M. Last time Chazhikadan defeated VN Vasavan by more than 1 lakh votes. Of the seven assembly constituencies like Piravom, Pala, Kaduthuruthy, Vaikom, Ettumanoor, Kottayam and Puthuppally, five constituencies except Vaikom and Ettumanoor are UDF strongholds. Congress is confident that if Achu Oommen contests here, she will win with a huge majority.