Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh.
Credit: PTI Photo
Thiruvananthapuram: Congress senior leader Kodikunnil Suresh has said that several Dalit leaders could not remain afloat in politics as they could not survive crisis and attacks.
Suresh, who represents the Mavelikara constituency, was talking at Dalit progress conclave organized by Gandhi Gramam, an initiative of Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
"I got elected to the Lok Sabha eight times. It was possible as I could survive many difficult situations and attacks. Even in the last elections there was a campaign by a section of the media that I will get defeated in the election while all other Congress candidates from Kerala will win. But I could survive all such attacks. Many leaders from Dalit communities seem to be unable to survive such attacks and hence they could not remain afloat," he said.
Even as Suresh's statement triggered speculations that he was lamenting over the lack of prominence being given in the party, leader of opposition V D Satheesan said that Suresh was mentioning about his personal life. "The Congress state leadership always strongly backed him. Despite a planned campaign to defeat him in the last election, the party insisted that he should contest," said Satheesan.