Local resentment against outsider Unnithan subsides

KANNUR: The Congress high command’s decision to field Rajmohan Unnithan as their surprise candidate in Kasaragod kicked up a storm within the party and a section rose against district Congress committee president Hakkim Kunnil alleging that he orchestrated the move to bring in the ‘outsider’. But the party leadership has managed to make them bury the hatchet for the time being and Unnithan is all set to launch his campaign from Monday.

Though the name of B Subbaya Rai, a young leader with Kannadiga background, was doing the rounds as a probable candidate and he himself unofficially declared it, it was late in the evening on March 16 that Unnithan’s name was announced.

A section of the party leaders threatened to quit and some even demanded Kunnil’s resignation. The DCC president made it clear the decision was taken by the high command and he played no role in it.

“We are sure Unnithan would successfully bring the issues such as the women’s entry to Sabarimala and the Periye double murder before the voters,” he said.

The local Congress leaders relied on Rai to win the votes of Hindus and Kannadigas but the party leadership believed the BJP had a better access to these segments and Unnithan would be able to make deeper inroads into the BJP vote bank.