The Hindu : Church body writes to Sonia on candidates

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 26, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Church body writes to Sonia on candidates

By Our Special Correspondent

KOCHI, FEB. 25. These are election times, when all is fair. In keeping with the spirit of the times, a number of names are being tossed around as likely candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. The All Kerala Catholic Congress Socio-Political Samity, said to be a wing of the Syro Malabar Sabha, has written a letter to the Congress president suggesting names for consideration for the constituencies of Thrissur, Mukundapuram and Ernakulam. The copies of the letter have been sent to the KPCC acting president, the Chief Minister, the UDF convener and also the senior leader, K. Karunakaran.

The proposed candidates for Mukundapuram are the former ambassador to Italy, K. P. Fabian, and party worker of Thrissur, Vincent Kattookaran. For Ernakulam, the names suggested are those of former Pro-Vice Chancellor, M. V. Pylee, and retired officer, Antony Cherian Nalpathaamkalam, who is also a former president of the All Kerala Catholic Congress. For Thrissur seat, the sitting MP's name has been proposed.

The chairman of the samity, Davis Thomas Ambatt pointed out that the suggestions have the blessings of the Syro Malabar Church and all the laity organisations. The letter to the Congress president pointed out that the Ernakulam, Mukundapuram and Thrissur parliamentary constituencies have a sizable strength and potentiality of `our people' who have voted for the Congress party for the last 50 years.

A curious aspect is that this perhaps may be the first time that an open letter has been written by a church organisation to the head of a political party. This is a sign of changing times and what was in the past done in secret has become an open affair now.

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