Lok Sabha elections: Congress may announce candidates today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The list of Congress candidates, who will contest Lok Sabha poll from Kerala, is expected to be announced by Saturday evening. The screening committee meeting for finalizing candidates was held in New Delhi on Friday, but, it is learned that there is still confusion over the names in a few seats.

KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran said he is hopeful of publishing the list on Saturday when Rahul Gandhi will be back in Congress headquarters after campaign tour. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala told reporters in New Delhi that there was no confusion and the list would be published on Saturday itself. Leaders from Kerala held consultations with senior leader A K Antony on the probable names before the screening committee meeting.

Sources in the Congress said the screening committee couldn’t reach a consensus on candidates for Attingal, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Chalakudy , Thrissur , Alathur, Palakkad, Vadakara and Wayanad. Candidature of senior leader Oommen Chandy and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal were not discussed in the screening committee. Their candidature will be decided by Gandhi. Venugopal, who is reluctant to contest from sitting seat Alappuzha, will face the election from Wayanad if the high command directs him to enter the fray. Chandy will contest from Pathanamthitta if high command directs him to or current MP Anto Antony will contest from there.

Shanimol Usman and Adoor Prakash are being considered for Alappuzha while Hibi Eden is being considered for Ernakulam along with present MP K V Thomas. Shafi Parambil is being considered for Palakkad. Ramesh Chennithala said there was nothing wrong in MLAs contesting the poll.

The hope for dissident Kerala Congress (M) leader P J Joseph to contest from Idukki as an independent was also dashed by the Congress high command. Similarly, the suggestion to field RMP leader K K Rema as UDF-backed candidate at Vadakara is also unlikely to materialise.