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Tag: Oommen Chandy

  • Kerala Youth Congress head Shafi Parambil meets Oommen Chandy, explains why he backed Satheesan

    Express News Service

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After KPCC working president MLA T Siddique, it was the flip of Youth Congress state president and Palakkad MLA Shafi Parambil to name on senior Congress chief Oommen Chandy. Ever since V D Satheesan was chosen the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) chief, Shafi Parambil had switched allegiance from the Oommen Chandy led ‘A’ camp to the occasion’s official management. The assembly on the Nattakom visitor home passed off within the presence of senior Congress chief Ok C Joseph.

    Following the UDF’s humiliation within the Assembly elections, 4 younger Congress MLAs — Siddique, Shafi, M Vincent and P C Vishnunath — who have been all Oommen Chandy loyalists didn’t need Ramesh Chennithala to proceed because the CLP chief. Despite Chandy soliciting their help, they backed Satheesan which helped him develop into the CLP chief in addition to the Opposition chief.

    Though Chandy was upset with the younger MLAs for ditching him at an important juncture, he didn’t present his displeasure. But occasion staff and leaders near Chandy raised the difficulty earlier than him, citing that the 4 legislators had betrayed him after turning into MLAs. First, it was Siddique who met Oommen Chandy at his residence within the capital metropolis. Though Siddique maintained that they shared a particular bond, his subsequent public assertion in regards to the state Congress management having held talks with Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala turned out to be a dampener.

    “The trust the Oommen Chandy camp had in Siddique eroded after his posturing as a loyalist turned out to be a damp squib. After Siddique, it was the turn of Shafi Parambil to reaffirm his rapport with Oommen Chandy. Shafi promised that he will always be a staunch supporter of the ‘A’ group,” a senior Congress chief advised The New Indian Express.

    A supply near Shafi Parambil confirmed to The New Indian Express that the assembly with Chandy passed off within the presence of Ok C Joseph. It is reliably learnt that Shafi apprised the senior leaders of the particular circumstances below which he needed to help Satheesan.

    “It is true that Shafi Parambil was huddled with senior Congress leaders at the Nattakom guest house. He has promised Oommen Chandy that he will remain 101% loyal to him,” the supply added.

  • After days of bickering, peace descends on Congress

    By Express News Service

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After days of bickering, peace descended on the state Congress on Monday because the diplomatic channel opened by VD Satheesan helped resolve the remaining misunderstandings between the brand new management and the group chieftains within the get together.Satheesan and Congress state chief Ok Sudhakaran held talks with ex-chief minister Oommen Chandy and former opposition chief Ramesh Chennithala for greater than an hour. After the assembly, Sudhakaran informed reporters that every one points have been resolved.

    Sources stated Chandy and Chennithala who lead the outstanding ‘A’ and ‘I’ teams, resepectively, within the get together, didn’t elevate any contemporary calls for in the course of the assembly. A senior Congress chief stated there was no severe criticism apart from excluding them from the ultimate spherical of talks to resolve on district chiefs. Sudhakaran assured them that such lapses wouldn’t be repeated.

    He additionally knowledgeable Chandy and Chennithala that an evidence has been sought from Kasaragod MP Rajmohan Unnithan, who had sarcastically requested the 2 to type their very own get together in the event that they needed their nominees as district chiefs. The management additionally settled the grievances of UDF constituent RSP on Monday once they assured motion in opposition to a bit of Congress leaders who the RSP felt had been chargeable for the get together’s defeat. 

    RSP glad after assembly with Cong state management

    The UDF high-power assembly held after Congress-RSP talks was cordial and it determined to convene a daylong session of all constituents on September 22 to look at the meeting ballot debacle. During the dialogue, Sudhakaran informed RSP leaders that leaders who had been discovered chargeable for RSP’s defeat gained’t be thought of for organisational revamp. RSP state secretary A A Azeez expressed satisfaction after the assembly and stated dialogue would proceed. The 5 regional-level subcommittees that probed UDF’s election debacle had already submitted their findings to the management.

    “The issues raised by the two leaders pertaining to the district chiefs’ appointments have been resolved. We will work united as the differences of opinion aired by Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala have been addressed. There will not be any further talks on this issue”, stated Sudhakaran. AICC common secretary Tariq Anwar who had deliberate to succeed in right here on Wednesday for mediation talks postponed his go to following the brand new developments. Satheesan stated he initiated discussions after consulting with the get together president. 

    “All issues are resolved. After preparing a schedule for the second and third stage of organisational revamping, we will complete the process without delay,” stated Satheesan. Later, Satheesan informed TNIE that Unnithan has already given his clarification to the get together president.  The state management will contemplate Unnithan’s clarification together with the reasons submitted by suspended leaders Ok Sivadasan Nair and Ok P Anilkumar. Sources stated no additional motion can be initiated in opposition to these leaders as the problems have been settled amicably.

  • Uproar in Congress’ Kerala unit a day after occasion’s new district presidents named

    By Express News Service

    KOCHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Bickerings and outbursts have surfaced within the Congress occasion in Kerala a day after the announcement of the brand new District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents to all of the 14 districts within the state.

    Senior leaders Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala alleged that no correct discussions have been held earlier than finalising the names of the brand new DCC presidents whereas KPCC president Ok Sudhakaran, Opposition chief VD Satheesan, KPCC working president PT Thomas and senior chief and MK Muraleedharan mentioned the brand new names have been chosen preserving the Congress occasion’s curiosity in thoughts, and never the curiosity of varied teams.

    ALSO READ| Kerala unit Congress chief Ok Sudhakaran rubbishes senior chief Oommen Chandy’s allegations

    “The list of new DCC presidents was arrived at after lengthy and proper discussions across various layers of the party in the state. Perhaps, never in the Congress party’s history in Kerala, such lengthy discussions have been held,” Satheesan advised reporters in Kochi, including that when Chandy and Chennithala have been on the helm throughout 18 years, no such discussions have been held.  

    “KPCC president K Sudhakaran and I held two rounds of talks with Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala. We have taken their suggestions and opinions before finalising the list. But, we can’t divide the 14 districts by distributing seven DCC presidents each between those two groups. We have promised a new leadership style to revive the Congress in Kerala, and the list, we believe, is for the betterment of the party,” mentioned Satheesan.

    Earlier, Oommen Chandy advised reporters in Kottayam denied studies that he was concerned in any discussions over the number of new DCC presidents. “There were no discussions with me regarding the new DCC presidents. Some reports said my nominee was selected as DCC president of Kottayam and Idukki. It’s not correct,” Chandy, who leads the ‘A’ faction of the Congress in Kerala, mentioned.

    Chennithala, former KPCC president, who leads the ‘I’ faction of the Congress, has additionally come out towards the brand new DCC presidents listing. He mentioned extra discussions may have been held, earlier than saying the brand new DCC presidents’ names.

    “If we had held more discussions, we could have avoided the intervention of the Congress High Command,” Chennithala mentioned, including that each Congress chief within the state was a part of one group or the opposite. “Tell me who doesn’t belong to a group in Kerala? Now, we are seeing a phenomenon where someone says he’s not part of a group when he gets a party position,” he mentioned.

    Addressing a information convention in Thiruvananthapuram, KPCC president Sudhakaran mentioned the restructuring of the DCCs was held after correct discussions amongst numerous senior leaders, KPCC workplace bearers and the Congress High Command.

    Echoing Satheesan’s feedback, Sudhakaran mentioned by no means within the occasion’s historical past such prolonged discussions have been held earlier than finalising the names of the DCC presidents. “Of course, it’s not possible to satisfy everyone,” he mentioned.

    PT Thomas, KPCC Working President, mentioned that the brand new DCC presidents’ listing gave extra significance to the Congress occasion organisation in Kerala, as towards the ‘teams’ pursuits. “I don’t think the DCC list could be prepared without taking the views of senior leaders like Oommen Chandy and Chennithala. The DCC list should have been finalised by August 15, but the list was delayed by about another 15 days as there was a view that more discussions should be held,” Thomas, who can also be an MLA, mentioned.

    Ok Muraleedharan, a former KPCC president and a sitting MP, has additionally come to the help of Sudhakaran and Satheesan, saying there have been never-before-seen discussions and talks between numerous segments of the Congress occasion, earlier than arriving on the remaining listing. “There were wider discussions than any time in the past for preparing this DCC presidents’ list,” he mentioned.

  • Congress central management to carry parleys with Mullappally, Chandy

    Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress central management has determined to ask former state Congress president Mullappally Ramachandran to New Delhi who has been a wounded lot, after Ramesh Chennithala apprised Rahul Gandhi, MP, about him. This comes after Chennithala was huddled with Rahul Gandhi and likewise after he held telephonic dialogue with senior Congress chief Oommen Chandy to appease the senior leaders following the turmoil attributable to the appointment of the brand new Opposition Leader.

    When senior leaders had been huddled at Indira Bhavan on Wednesday earlier than Ok Sudhakaran took over because the state Congress president, he had apprised everybody in regards to the deep damage he had confronted following the ballot drubbing. When it was the collective management of the Congress which led the meeting elections, a piece of leaders had heaped the blame on him. His grievance was that the identical set of individuals had not bothered to congratulate him when he led the occasion within the 2019 Lok Sabha elections the place 19 seats had been received by the UDF. Chennithala in his assembly with Rahul Gandhi conveyed the emotions of Mullappally.

    A supply near Chennithala informed TNIE that each Mullappally and Oommen Chandy can even be invited to fulfill Rahul Gandhi in close to future. “The central leadership realised that observer Mallikarjun Kharge who had come down to oversee the election of Congress Legislative Party leader had not shown his political maturity towards the trio, especially towards Chennithala. Now Rahul Gandhi is keen to ensure that a seasoned leader like Chennithala’s expertise and acumen in handling complex issues are given due consideration,” stated a supply.

    However, Mullappally informed TNIE that he has not heard from the central management but and if invited, he’ll take a name then. Before leaving New Delhi, Chennithala met Congress Working Committee leaders A Ok Antony, Ok C Venugopal, Tariq A  nwar and Mukul Wasnik. After the assembly, Tariq stated it’s the central management that ought to take a name on Chennithala being deputed as a nationwide normal secretary to both Punjab or Gujarat. Oommen Chandy is more likely to go away for Delhi on Wednesday.

  • Hurt Chennithala to Sonia Gandhi: Oommen Chandy’s posting price expensive in Kerala polls

    By Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pained by his elimination from the Opposition chief submit, Ramesh Chennithala, in a strongly worded letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, stated the celebration excessive command’s choice to nominate the election administration committee headed by Oommen Chandy alienated Hindu voters from the celebration and UDF. This was one of many main causes for the Congress’ ballot debacle within the state, he stated.

    In the letter, he stated, “Despite performing efficiently throughout the tenure, that too when the opposition activities were crippled by Covid, I was sidelined and humiliated by appointing an election management committee headed by Chandy at the fag end of my tenure, even after Chandy himself never wanted the same. That was one of the reasons for losing the Hindu votes,” he stated. 

    Chennithala pained over manner he was proven door

    He additionally expressed his deep ache and anguish over the way in which he was proven the door quickly after the ballot debacle. When the discussions for electing the brand new Congress legislative celebration (CLP) chief within the meeting began, Chandy requested Congress basic secretary Okay C Venugopal personally whether or not there was any choice from the excessive command to vary the CLP chief and the reply was a categorical ‘no’. “I personally asked Mallikarjun Kharge (who headed the fact-finding team) the same question and the answer was again a categorical ‘no’.”

    He stated if he got any indication that the celebration was planning to take away him, he would have gracefully opted out. “Then, I could have publicly announced that I am opting out of the race. This would have been an honourable exit for me. I feel this was deliberately kept out of my purview and selective leaks were made to the media that I had been trying to hold on to the post, damaging my hard-earned reputation. I am deeply pained and anguished by the way the whole issue was handled. It has tarnished my image badly and had bruised my heart.”

    Chennithala stated that in his profession spanning over 40 years, he had a blemish-less observe file. There have been additionally planted media reviews that he was not having fun with the help of Sonia and Rahul, which pained him so much, he stated within the letter. He additionally claimed he nonetheless enjoys the bulk help of the MLAs within the CLP. “But, irrespective of positions, I have always been and will be loyal to you and the party.” Chennithala reminded Sonia that he had not been correctly rewarded by the celebration regardless of discharging all difficult duties assigned to him over time.

  • Congress appoints VD Satheesan as Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly

    By Express News Service
    T’PURAM: A technology shift is lastly being witnessed within the State Congress with the appointment of VD Satheesan because the Congress Legislative Party chief (CLP). 

    Satheesan’s appointment comes after MP Rahul Gandhi and Congress National General Secretary KC Venugopal stood agency in supporting Satheesan, braving the stress ways raised by Oommen Chandy and the incumbent Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala. 

    The resolution to nominate Satheesan because the CLP was knowledgeable by Mallikarjun Kharge, the central observer, who was assigned to supervise this choice to State Congress President Mullapally Ramachandran.

    Satheesan will turn into the following Opposition Leader within the fifteenth Kerala Legislative Assembly as soon as Mullapally provides the letter to the pro-term Speaker informing him of the Congress social gathering’s resolution. 

    The two factional leaders lower a sorry determine after they determined to unite, which had not gone down properly with a cross part of the leaders, particularly among the many social gathering employees. A rift was seen taking place within the factions a lot to the apprehensions of Oommen Chandy and Chennithala. 

    It was the 4 ‘A’ group MLA’s PC Vishnunath, M Vincent, Shafi Parambil and T Siddique who performed spoilsport for Chennithala on the assembly chaired by Mallikarjun Kharge. 

    Despite Oommen Chandy’s demand earlier than his group leaders to again Chennithala, these 4 legislators challenged the group diktat and maintained that solely a “change” can convey again the misplaced glory of the Congress. They duly knowledgeable the central observer about their alternative. 

    The normal outcry among the many youth MLA’s was that solely a technology shift would allow the Congress social gathering to bounce again at a time when the CPM management had come out with contemporary faces of their LDF ministry. 

    Rahul Gandhi had at all times stood for younger blood a lot to the frustration of Chennithala who had been lobbying arduous for one more time period in workplace. Within minutes of the announcement from the nationwide capital on Satheesan’s appointment, Mullapally wished him one of the best in his new position.

    “I am hoping Satheesan will shine in his new capacity. I do not know when his name came to the forefront of the CLP leader’s role. Satheesan has already proved his mettle as a legislator. I will be giving a letter to the Speaker informing him of the central Congress leadership’s decision in proposing Satheesan as the next Opposition Leader”, mentioned Mullapally.

    When there was a tug of conflict between Satheesan and Chennithala and the central Congress management dilly dallying on their alternative, senior Congress chief A Okay Antony ensured that Mallikarjun Kharge ought to confide to the three senior leaders earlier than making the official announcement. Chennithala then referred to as up Satheesan and congratulated him.

    “The meeting to select the CLP leader had decided to entrust the Congress High Command and now they have chosen Satheesan. I am agreeing to the Congress High Command’s decision to appoint Satheesan”, mentioned Chennithala in a press release.

    The UDF allies, together with the Indian Union Muslim League have welcomed Satheesan’s appointment. Even although the allies too needed a change of guard on the social gathering and parliamentary ranges, they’d taken a stand that regardless of the central Congress management takes, they’ll abide by it. But the grape vine was that they too wished to see a generational shift.

  • Philipose Mar Chrysostom: The Kerala priest who made us snicker

    It spoke volumes of the recognition and authority of Chrysostom that he might publicly poke enjoyable at a serving chief minister minutes after the latter introduced him with an award. At a church-organised operate in Pathanamthitta in May 2014, a time when Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was weathering scandals each inside and out of doors the social gathering, Chrysostom checked out him and mentioned, “There was a time when a Puthuppally-born boy would issue orders as a student leader and everyone heeded to him. He could make the state tremble in fear. But today, I’m hearing that the state is making him tremble in fear.” Chandy and the remainder of the viewers burst out in laughter.
    In the early hours of Wednesday, Philipose Mar Chrysostom, who regaled audiences along with his uncanny knack for wit and humour, died at a non-public hospital in Pathanamthitta on the age of 103.
    The longest-serving bishop in India, Chrysostom was the patriarch of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, a neighborhood which is believed to have been transformed by St Thomas (or Mar Thoma in Malayalam), one of many 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. Though the Church itself ranks as solely the sixth-largest Christian neighborhood within the state as per the 2011 Census, the type of acceptance and adoration that Chrysostom commanded was maybe not loved by any Christian priest within the state.

    And that’s primarily attributed to Chrysostom’s capacity to transcend non secular and political disparities, to succeed in out to at least one one other utilizing the language of affection and humanity. Rather than staying throughout the confines of a strict theologian, he believed in conversing with whomever he might discover, regardless of the sphere or sector they labored in. And so, there are reams of transcripts and tons of of hours of footage of Chrysostom’s conversations with personalities of various hues, from politics to cinema, literature to social work and sports activities to spirituality. On the centenary of his delivery, acclaimed movie director Blessy produced a documentary on the life and beliefs of Chrysostom that gained entry into the Guinness Book of World Records within the class of ‘longest documentary’ ever, working over 48 hours.

    Chrysostom was born as Philip Oommen in 1917 right into a household close to Thiruvalla which has produced many clergymen. Following within the footsteps of his father, who was the vicar of an area Mar Thoma church, he accomplished his graduate research in Kerala, occurring to check theology in Bengaluru the place he started missionary actions in 1940.
    Even earlier than India obtained Independence, Oommen was ordained as a deacon with the Bengaluru parish. And in 1953, he was given the episcopal title ‘Philipose Mar Chrysostom’, the one with the golden tongue, an outline he conformed to until his final breath.
    He remained a bishop for 67 years and 11 months, the longest-ever inside any church within the nation. He was put in as Metropolitan in 1999 and retired as Metropolitan Emeritus in 2007. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the nation’s third-highest civilian honour, in 2018 for his excellent contribution to society and communal concord.
    The outstanding side about Chrysostom is that even because the world’s best honours got here on the lookout for him, he owed his achievements to probably the most primary folks whose work and livelihoods formed his life. Often, in interviews and speeches, he has credited his Bishophood to an unlikely coconut plucker named Shanku. When folks sat up considering how that was doable, he would clarify, “When I was studying, my family’s sole source of income was through coconuts in the field. Only if Shanku came and plucked coconuts, could the money be used to pay the college fees. If he hadn’t come, studies would get disrupted and I wouldn’t have become a priest. Without becoming a priest, one cannot become a bishop.”
    Chrysostom has additionally rallied in opposition to social evils like habit to alcohol and medicines, calling it one of the vital issues in Kerala. When Chandy launched prohibition throughout his stint in energy, the Christian patriarch lauded him for his braveness to do it, though the coverage was reversed to a big extent after the Left events got here to energy. He has additionally been vital of the commercialisation of the Church amid allegations of its involvement in shady land offers. When the general public agitation in opposition to constructing an airport in Aranmula by destroying acres of paddy fields reached its zenith, Chrysostom too raised his hand and mentioned, “Nobody should fly over us by destroying our paddy fields and denying water to us. I don’t like it.”

    But above all, it’s the good-natured, and generally sharp humour in his phrases that endeared him to plenty going past his religion and positioned him altogether on a unique pedestal. In the native media, he’s typically described as ‘chirippikkunna thirumeni’ (the priest who makes us smile) or ‘chiriyude thamburan’ (The Lord of smile). His humour was particular as a result of it was typically at the price of himself, his religion and even God. In a society the place poking enjoyable at God can elicit disastrous penalties, Chrysostom proved he might do it amicably and for good motive. The folks knew that he was solely making some extent.
    “I tell jokes mainly to cement some of life’s most fundamental principles inside our people’s minds. When they remember a joke, they may recall the principle I talked about,” he mentioned in an interview.

  • Condition of Covid-infected Oommen Chandy secure

    By Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The well being situation of senior Congress chief and former CM Oommen Chandy is secure. He was examined constructive for Covid-19 on Friday, in keeping with hospital sources. 

    The 77-year-old, who was affected by fever for the final two days and was quarantined at his residence in Thiruvananthapuram, has been shifted to a non-public hospital. Chandy Oommen, son of Oommen Chandy, shared his photographs watching TV and having tea on the hospital on Facebook whereas thanking everybody who provided prayers for his early restoration. 

    On Thursday, the second RT-PCR take a look at of Chandy turned constructive. The senior-most Congress chief, who just lately turned very energetic within the electioneering, was one of many get together’s chief ministerial candidates in Kerala. He had even extensively travelled throughout the size and breadth of the state as a part of the Assembly election campaigns for the Congress.

    Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has additionally examined constructive for the virus quickly after the elections. 

    In a Facebook put up on Thursday, he stated he has been confirmed Covid +ve. “Will get treated at the Government Medical College, Kozhikkode. Request those who have been in contact with me recently to go into self-observation” he tweeted. 

  • Kerala: High drama in Puthuppally over speculations of Oommen Chandy shifting to Nemom constituency

    Amidst hypothesis that former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will contest from Nemom within the April 6 Assembly polls, Puthuppally, his residence constituency in Kottayam district, witnessed dramatic scenes on Saturday as a gaggle of Congress staff staged protest close to his home and made suicide threats.
    Nemom constituency, a suburb positioned in Thiruvananthapuram district, is the lone seat of BJP within the Kerala Assembly.
    A lot of social gathering staff and followers together with girls gathered close to his home since morning and raised slogans, saying they might not let their long-time MLA go away Puthuppally to contest in every other phase.
    The two-time Chief Minister has been representing Puthupally within the state Assembly for the final 51 years since Seventies.

    An emotional supporter even climbed atop the rooftop of his home and threatened to commit suicide, holding social gathering flag in his arms.
    “We will give our life, but not Chandy… he is our dearest leader… we will not let him go to Nemom,” one other Congress activist stated.
    Chandy, who received again residence from Delhi this morning, was even waylaid by the supporters and appealed him to not swap to every other constituency. The 77 years-old chief, who someway managed to enter the home amidst the push of social gathering staff, appeared to be moved by the assist confirmed by followers. Senior leaders Ok C Joseph and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan additionally reached Chandy’s residence by the point.
    As the protests intensified, the chief assured the supporters that he wouldn’t go away Puthuppally to contest in Nemom.
    “Candidates have been finalised in 81 constituencies. In the record, my identify is given because the candidate in Puthupally.
    “Neither state nor the central leadership have asked me to contest from Nemom. I completely understand and acknowledge the emotions of party workers and followers. There is no way to leave Puthupally,” Chandy stated. However, he stated discussions have been sill on over the candidature in Nemom.

    Speculations are excessive that Chandy, the veteran chief with a mass assist base throughout the southern state, can be fielded in Nemom, the excessive profile constituency the place a fierce three-corned struggle is anticipated, within the upcoming polls.
    A bit of media additionally reported that that Chandy had consented to contest from Nemom, which was thought-about to be the explanation for the emotional response of followers.
    The names of Shashi Tharoor and Ok Muraleedharan, each members of parliament, have been additionally stated to have been mentioned as possiblecandidates in Nemom, however the Congress management already made it clear that MPs wouldn’t be contesting in Assembly polls.
    Wresting Nemom seat from the saffron social gathering is a serious problem for each the standard fronts-Congress-led UDF and the CPI(M)-headed LDF- as BJP had opened its maiden account within the state Assembly by successful this constituency.
    As BJP leaders hail Nemom because the “Gujarat of Kerala” and the social gathering’s iron fortress, its a matter of satisfaction for each thetraditional fronts, who’ve been dominating the state’s bipolar polity for thus many many years, to grab it from the BJP-NDA.
    Congress sources stated by fielding a excessive profile chief like Chandy, the grand-old social gathering can provide a befitting reply to the CPI(M)’s allegation that the BJP and Congress have been going hand-in-hand in lots of constituencies together with Nemom. If the social gathering wins and it might probably wrest the lone seat from BJP, it will be a game-changer within the state politics, they added.
    However, the Congress management is but to make any formal announcement on the Nemom candidature.
    Speculations have been rife that the Congress excessive command was eager that both Chandy or Chennithala needs to be ready to strive their luck from Nemon seat.
    The CPI(M) has already introduced its former MLA, V Sivankutty because the candidate in Nemom.

    There have been additionally media experiences that former Mizoram Governor, Kummanam Rajasekharan can be the BJP nominee there.
    BJP veteran and former union minister, O Rajagopal had gained Nemom in 2016 meeting polls by garnering 67,813 votes by defeating CPI(M)-LDF’s V Sivankutty who secured 59,142 votes. However, UDF candidate V Surendran Pillai (JD-S) might end solely in a distant third place with 13,860 votes.

  • Oommen Chandy not in Nemom, ‘A’ group leaders breathe straightforward

    Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Leaders of the ‘A’ group within the Congress heaved a sigh of aid on Friday after the state unit leaders declared in New Delhi that former chief minister Oommen Chandy would contest the approaching meeting elections from his Puthuppally constituency. The group leaders had been fuming since his title was urged for the Nemom seat. They felt that the Congress had fallen into the entice laid by the CPM which alleged an “adjustment” between the Congress and the BJP in Nemom after the saffron celebration threw sufficient hints that its former state president Kummanam Rajasekharan can be fielded there.

    The Chandy camp was peeved with Congress state president Mullappally Ramachandran as he was the primary one to suggest Chandy’s title in Nemom. However, on the primary day itself, Chandy had expressed his reservation over such a transfer. Halfway by the screening committee assembly in New Delhi, the Nemom candidature got here up for dialogue. 

    Already, the ‘A’ group was a wounded lot with lots of their senior leaders having been sidelined within the possible candidate listing. For an individual like Chandy, who’s a family title in his hometown of Puthuppally from the place he had been elected to the meeting for a file 11 instances, ditching his voters now was unthinkable. Moreover, the 77-year-old didn’t favour his son, Chandy Oommen, contesting from the seat at this juncture. 

    A senior Congress MP and a trusted lieutenant of Chandy informed TNIE that the Congress management mustn’t have given undue prominence to Nemom. “The pros and cons of Oommen Chandy contesting from Nemom should have been discussed by the party leadership before coming up with such a proposal. As far as we are concerned, Chandy has categorically stated that he will contest only from Puthuppally,” he stated.The BJP has been dilly-dallying on Kummanam’s candidature in Nemom and it’s ready for the Congress listing to be out. 

    In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Nemom was the one meeting phase out of the seven that make up Thiruvananthapuram parliamentary constituency the place Kummanam had achieved higher than Shashi Tharoor. “Tharoor had elevated his vote share from 26.97% in 2014 to 32.88% in 2019. Though Nemom has all the time seen a consolidation of Hindu votes, there are over 32,000 Muslim and 30,000 Christian votes, apart from one other 10,000 votes from Dalit, Vellala and Ezhava communities.

    There are 74 NSS karayogams in Nemom, which may additionally work in favour of UDF. It was after analysing these elements that Mullappally urged {that a} bigwig like Chandy be fielded there,” stated a frontrunner near the Congress state president. However, CWC chief A Ok Antony himself had requested the celebration management to train warning in fielding Chandy in Nemom, which turned essential in Friday’s choice, ‘A’ group leaders imagine.