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I'm not adamant: CM

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM SEPT. 3. The Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, has said that he is not adamant on the Congress candidate for the Ernakulam Lok Sabha by-election but only suggested a winnable candidate from among the names that have cropped up.

Talking to media persons after today's Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said that he was not for a verbal duel with the KPCC president, K. Muraleedharan.

He had many contacts in Ernakulam where he had lived for long and had consulted them in finding a winnable candidate. They favoured M.O. John and he suggested the name to the high command. If one went for compromise in this respect, the CPI(M) candidate might turn out to be the winner, Mr. Antony said.

He recalled that he had withdrawn three of his nominees during the last Assembly election in favour of nominees of the Karunakaran group. He said that the UDF would win the elections. Though there was difference in the Congress now, all would stand together at the end to fight the elections, he said.

He said the candidature of the former Finance Minister, V. Viswanatha Menon, in the election marked the beginning of the erosion of CPI(M) votes. As a result, the Congress would emerge stronger. Mr. Menon's candidature would indeed be a shock to the CPI(M) because Mr. Menon had contributed much to the building of the party in the district.

He said that the resignation of S. Krishnakumar from the Congress was unfortunate.

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