Kerala elections: Congress releases second list, MP Sudhakaran agrees to stay away. india news
Thiruvananthapuram: Ending days of uncertainty, the Congress on Thursday released its second list of 37 candidates in Kerala, completing the selection process for all 95 seats to be contested by the party in the state. As per the instructions of the party high command, no sitting MP has been fielded in the assembly elections.The names included in the second list include Mohammed Shias in Kochi, Sandeep Warrier in Trikaripur, Abin Varkey in Aranmula, KS Sabrinadhan in Nemom and TO Mohanan in Kannur.
However, the selection process was not without internal differences. Amid indications that the party may field his critic and former mayor Mohanan from Kannur, former KPCC president K Sudhakaran had expressed his displeasure, even hinting that he may consider contesting as an independent candidate.However, on Thursday Sudhakaran refused to contest as an independent candidate from Kannur and said he would remain loyal to the party. Sources indicated that Sudhakaran softened his stance after steps were taken to defuse the crisis between senior Congress leader AK Antony and the party president Mallikarjun Kharge Personally intervened, reaching out to the former head of state and urging restraint.In Kochi, Deepti Mary Varghese was the frontrunner, but the leadership supported the candidate supported by opposition leader VD Satheesan.