The Hindu : KPCC committee to prepare panel of candidates

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 12, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

KPCC committee to prepare panel of candidates

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 11 . The KPCC election committee is likely to submit to the AICC a panel of candidates for the 17 Lok Sabha seats the Congress would contest in Kerala.

Given the divisions in the committee, a panel of names is likely to be put up even for some of the party's sitting seats. The AICC election committee would take the final decision on renomination of sitting MPs. Sources said that sitting MPs would be given tickets irrespective of whether another name was proposed.

The KPCC president, P.P. Thankachan, said that he expected to submit a panel of names, though he would have been much satisfied if it had been a unanimous list. Mr. Thankachan and the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony would leave for Delhi on Friday with the list of candidates. The Kerala list is likely to be taken up by the AICC screening committee and the Central Election Committee, which is now in session in Delhi.

The counter move for a panel of candidates had been undertaken by the AICC general secretary, Vayalar Ravi, who had submitted seven names for as many seats.

Mr. Ravi reportedly submitted a new list to the KPCC. Mr. Thankachan said that he had not received the new list even though Mr. Ravi had informed him about it.

Kozhikode and Munkundapuram would most probably be the bone of contention. Mr. Ravi's move has made the other three factions restive, as their stakes in the Lok Sabha elections are much higher.

According to sources, the Chief Minister was unhappy about Mr. Ravi's moves and had expressed the opinion that Mr. Ravi could have given his views in Delhi in his capacity as the AICC general secretary instead of upsetting the selection process.

Mr. Ravi had given his list to scuttle the moves of the KPCC panel to come up with a unanimous list which, according to him, would have gone all out to accommodate the senior leader, K. Karunakaran, and his nominees, shutting out the chances of more eligible candidates. The moves have been directed mainly against the possible nomination of Ms. Padmaja Venugopal from Mukundapuram.

Along with the Lok Sabha nominations, the KPCC panel is also expected to recommend the party's candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat.

Mr. Karunakaran is sure to get the nomination for the seat, according to sources.

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