New Delhi, Mar 19 (PTI) Determined to take on the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the April 9 Kerala Assembly polls, the Congress on Thursday banked on its state leadership to see it through, deciding against fielding any of its MPs.
The party braved internal pressures to take the policy decision of banking on its Kerala leadership rather than sending parliamentarians to fight Assembly polls.
The pressure on the party seemed immense on Wednesday evening, when Kannur MP K Sudhakaran threatened to quit, even saying “good bye” to leaders after learning that his name was not considered for the Kannur Assembly seat.
However, several leaders pacified Sudhakaran late on Wednesday and convinced him to abide by the party’s decision.
In a sign that he has been placated, Sudhakaran on Thursday said he would not contest the Kerala polls without the party’s permission.
He also set at rest the speculation that he would quit the Congress and form another party or join some other political front, saying, “Where will I go?” Asked if he would contest the Kerala polls as an Independent candidate, he said, “No, nothing like that. I will only contest if I have the party’s permission, otherwise not.” “I will accept the party’s decision,” Sudhakaran told reporters as he left his accommodation in New Delhi for the airport to return to Kerala.
Noting that the party is bigger than him, he said, “I will obediently follow the party’s directions. That is my decision. I will move forward accordingly.” Sources said Sudhakaran was to address the media at the Kerala House in Delhi on Thursday and announce some decisions, but was pacified after the intervention of top leaders, including former defence minister and party veteran A K Antony.
Sudhakaran eventually did not address the media and the sources said he has been given some assurances by senior leaders.
The Central Election Committee (CEC) of the party had left it to the Congress high-command to take a call on whether to allow MPs to contest the upcoming Assembly elections or not.
With a second list of 37 candidates on Thursday, the Congress has now declared candidates for all the 92 of the 140 Assembly seats it is contesting in Kerala.
The sources said the top Congress leadership took the call of not fielding any MPs despite pressure from some who were keen to contest the Assembly polls and return to the state.
The decision sends a clear message to the Congress’s opponents, who were targeting the party for planning to field MPs in Assembly elections.
If allowed, this would have led to Lok Sabha bypolls and the Congress leadership does not want to lose any seat in the Lower House of Parliament.
Leader of Opposition in Kerala V D Satheesan is learnt to have strongly opposed any move to allow MPs to contest the Assembly polls in the southern state.
The sources said Sudhakaran, a veteran Congress leader who has been a minister in Kerala in the past, was keen to contest the upcoming polls from the Kannur Assembly seat.
The sources also said at least five MPs, including Attingal MP Adoor Prakash (another former Kerala minister), wanted to contest the Assembly polls.
The Congress declared its second list of 37 candidates for the Kerala polls late on Thursday evening. It had declared its first list of 55 candidates two days ago.
The last date for filing nominations for the Kerala polls is March 23. The polling will be held on April 9 and the counting of votes will be taken up on May 4. The tenure of the current Kerala Assembly ends on May 23. PTI SKC HMP RC
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