Congress Clears ‘Corruption-Tainted’ Candidates for Assembly Poll

Chandy was opposed to any move that would sideline his loyalists, and conveyed the same to the high command.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. (Photo: The News Minute)

The Congress high command has reportedly agreed with Oommen Chandy’s stand that his loyalists who face allegations of corruption, be allowed to contest in the Assembly elections.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and state president Sudheeran reportedly had differences over the candidature of three ministers – K Babu, KC Joseph and Adoor Prakash – and two sitting MLAs who are reportedly close to Chandy. Now, however, the media has reported that the central leadership of the party has sanctioned the candidature of the three ministers.

For the past five days, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC President VM Sudheeran have been in Delhi to finalise the list prepared by the state unit and obtain the central leadership’s approval for the candidates.

Loyalists Rewarded?

Sudheeran had drawn up strict norms for these candidates, including the rules that politicians who had been elected four times to the Assembly, and those facing allegations of violating the law should be kept out. Senior leader AK Antony on Thursday extended his support for Sudheeran’s views.

Chandy, however, was opposed to any move that would sideline his loyalists and has conveyed the same to the high command. Although he returned to Kerala after meetings in Delhi, he was not happy about the KPCC President’s uncompromising stand that persons facing allegations should not be given the ticket and those who had contested more than four times should make way for younger and newer faces.

Babu, who faces corruption allegations in the bar bribery scandal, had said yesterday that he would be able to retain the Thrippunithura seat if given the party ticket.

“If I am fielded again as candidate from Trippunithura seat, I have no doubts about my victory. It is 100 percent certain I will win the polls,” Babu had told a Malayalam TV channel.