The Hindu : Rashtriya Mahasabha to contest six seats

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 22, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Rashtriya Mahasabha to contest six seats

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, FEB. 21. Rashtriya Mahasabha, the newly-formed political outfit of Adivasis and Dalits, will contest from at least six constituencies in the coming Lok Sabha polls, according to the Mahasabha leaders, C. K. Janu and M. Geethanandan.

Addressing a news conference here on Saturday, Mr. Geethanandan said that the Mahasabha would field candidates in the Kannur, Kozhikode, Idukki, Muvattupuzha, Kottayam and Adoor Lok Sabha seats. The possibility of contesting from more seats was being considered. The candidate list was yet to be finalised. Mr. Geethanandan declared that the Mahasabha would accept support from all political parties except the BJP, whose workers had attacked Adivasi activists following the Muthanga incident last year. He also said that the Mahasabha would work for the defeat of Kodikkunnil Suresh in case he contests from the Adoor seat again.

Though the Mahasabha leaders expressed hostility towards both the CPI(M) and a faction of the Congress for having attacked the Adivasis in the aftermath of the Muthanga incident, they appreciated the more sympathetic stance adopted by the CPI. The Mahasabha was ready to extend all support to the CPI candidates and might even consider arriving upon a consensus with regard to the Adoor seat, they said.

The newly-formed 19-member State council of the Rashtriya Mahasabha which convened here elected Ms. Janu as president. The State convention of the Mahasabha to be held at Adoor on March 12 - 14 would elect the State secretariat and formulate the election strategies.

The Mahasabha leaders warned of an agitation if an Ambedkar statue was not installed in the Assembly Complex before April 14.

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