Congress announces candidates list for Kerala polls

The Congress, on Monday night, released its list of candidates for the Kerala Assembly polls after a week’s acrimonious discussions between the faction leaders.

The party has fielded 33 of the 39 sitting MLAs, with the surprise omission of sitting legislator Benny Behanan, a loyalist of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who opted out of the contest on Monday.

Behanan was one of the five leaders whom KPCC chief V M Sudheeran wanted to deny tickets but Chandy had insisted on the re-nominations. On Sunday, the Congress leadership unofficially gave in to the demands of Chandy after he threatened not to contest if all candidates under scanner are denied tickets.

All other candidates whom Chandy wanted in the list have been included.

Earlier in the day, Behanan made a surprise announcement that he would not contest as the KPCC chief was not in the favour of fielding him.

Former Congress MP P T Thomas will contest from Trikkakara where Behnan was the sitting MLA. 

Of the 83 candidates, seven are women. 

The Congress has also fielded film actor Jagadeesh from Pathanapuram seat while NSU(I) President Roji M John, a close confidante of Rahul Gandhi, also finds his name on the list.

Kerala leaders have been camping in Delhi for the past one week trying to finalise the candidates list. 

However, Sudheeran’s insistence on dropping ministers and MLAs facing allegations was resisted by Chandy, who said that his name should also be dropped in such a scenario.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi also supported Sudheeran’s view but party chief Sonia Gandhi felt that they should take a pragmatic stand at a time when they were facing an inner-party crisis.