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High command for consensus candidate

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI Sept. 2. Even as reports from Kerala suggested otherwise, the Congress high command today continued to hope that its State unit would be able to agree upon a consensus candidate for the Ernakulam Lok Sabha by-election scheduled for September 23. However, should the rival groups within the State be unable to arrive at a consensus, the party's Central leadership will in all likelihood choose from the three candidates shortlisted by the election committee of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

According to the AICC in-charge of Kerala, Ahmed Patel, the high command does not want to intervene unless absolutely inevitable. ``We want them to decide on a consensus candidate. But, if they cannot come to an agreement, then we would be left with no option but to announce a candidate.''

Who the high command's choice will be is not clear, but sources maintained that the Central leadership would seriously consider the candidature of the three names suggested by the KPCC election committee. As to whether the seat would go to a candidate owing allegiance to the Karunakaran faction - considering the fact that the constituency was held by a member of his group, George Eden, whose recent death has necessitated this by-poll - leaders said ``merit and not group politics'' would be the clinching factor.

While asking the KPCC president, K. Muraleedharan, to decide upon a consensus candidate along with the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, the Central leadership gave the State unit the option of choosing from within or outside the panel - Lino Jacob, M.O. John and P. V. Laju -- suggested by the election committee. Following this directive from the high command, Mr. Muraleedharan suggested the name of the former Deputy Mayor of Kochi Corporation, T. J. Vinod.

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