Congress's dilemma ends; C Raghunath files nomination in Dharmadam

Congress party's dilemma over the candidate in Dharmadam ends as C Raghunath filed his nomination to contest in Dharmadam against CPI (M) strongman and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The party has been witnessing dramatic developments over the candidature.

Thiruvananthapuram: Just a day before the deadline for submitting a nomination in the Kerala assembly poll ends, C Raghunath filed his nomination as Congress candidate to contest in Dharmadam against CPI (M) strongman and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The suspense at Dharmadam has come to a close with the development. K Sudhakaran earlier said that he recommended Congress local leader C Raghunath’s name to the seat.

Even though K Sudhakaran was named as a candidate by the party leadership earlier, he declined the opportunity. He had announced in a press meet that he is not willing to be a candidate. He said, he has sought the leadership to avoid him as there is not enough time to prepare for candidature. If he becomes a candidate at Dharmadam, he would not be able to focus on other constituencies in the Kannur district and reach other parts of the State for campaigns, he said.

If it was planned earlier, it could have been done and an overturning victory could have been realised. However, at this stage, I am not in a position to contest, Sudhakaran said. He also clarified that he is not disregarding the leadership’s decision, and expressed his gratitude for considering him to the seat. There is no room for any more suspense, hereafter. However, Congress is in a quandary that there is no ‘strong candidate’ in Dharmadom.

Walayar girls' mother had also expressed her willingness to contest against the Chief Minister in Dharmadom. Support lopsided to her subsequently. However, as this was strongly disapproved by the Congress local leadership, the plan was dropped.

Initial talks were to field Forward Block national general secretary G Devarajan against Pinarayi Vijayan and gain national attention. However, as Devarajan denied, the Congress leadership’s plan fell flat.

Initially, Congress leadership was considering the names of Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala to Nemom. But, the party finally zeroed in on Vadakara MP K Muralidharan as the ‘powerful’ candidate for Nemom. Though the Congress had earlier decided against giving tickets to present MPs from Kerala, the rule was relaxed for Muralidharan MP.

The Congress has been claiming that a strong, powerful candidate would be fielded in Nemom seat from where the BJP opened its account in Kerala in the last Assembly elections.

Congress party has been witnessing dramatic developments ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls. The party has been hitting headlines with celebrities candidature, members quitting the party and even tonsuring by a member.

With inputs from ANI