Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi, Apr 17 (PTI) Senior Congress leader M K Raghavan on Friday claimed that the “stubbornness” of some party leaders was the reason behind MPs not contesting in the just concluded Kerala Assembly polls and that it was not a decision of the high command.
Raghavan said that he was approached by someone in the party to contest from a losing seat in the Assembly polls, but the matter was dropped due to the “stubbornness” of some Congress leaders that MPs should not be in the fray.
He made the claim while speaking to reporters in Delhi, where he said the decision that no MPs should contest in the Assembly polls was not taken in any party committee or conclave or forum.
Raghavan, Congresss MP from Kozhikode Lok Sabha constituency, said that Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief Sunny Joseph was wrong to say that it was a party high command decision not to allow MPs to contest.
“It is wrong to blame the high command for it. It took such a decision later to avoid any conflict within the party. It was the stubbornness of some party leaders in Kerala which led to the decision,” he contended.
He also deprecated the ongoing discussions within the party on who should be the chief ministerial candidate in Kerala, saying that it will tarnish the image of the Congress.
Raghavan said the discussion began with a remark by the Ernakulam District Congress Committee (DCC) president Mohammed Shiyas and questioned what right he had to make such comments.
“It is his statement that created the entire controversy. A statement which should not have been made. Then the controversy began spreading widely in the cyber world,” he said.
He also said he does not believe Shiyas’s statements were made with the knowledge of senior leader and LoP in the assembly V D Satheesan.
The Congress MP said that such discussions should happen only after the results are out.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala reached the national capital on Friday.
He told reporters that he was not in Delhi to meet any party leaders but to hold discussions regarding the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) election which was announced recently.
“There will be no discussions on any matters related to Kerala,” Chennithala asserted.
He also said that the discussions on the CM candidate of the party were “unnecessary”.
“I have said so earlier too,” he added.
Elections to 140 Assembly constituencies in the state were held on April 9 and the outcome will be made known after the counting of polled votes on May 4. PTI HMP SA
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