KPCC chief suggests names to replace 5 MLAs, Ramesh remains mute spectator

KOCHI: Chief minister Oommen Chandy locked horns with KPCC president V M Sudheeran at the AICC screening committee meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday to select candidates for the assembly election. Chandy was reportedly provoked by Sudheeran's demand to remove MLAs K Babu, Benny Behanan, K C Joseph, Adoor Prakash and A T George from the fray.
Chandy clarified that the demand was not acceptable to him and he would not support such a decision.Home minister Ramesh Chennithala who also attended the meeting, however, chose to remain a mute spectator.
Sudheeran is learnt to ha ve suggested N Venugopal instead of Babu in Tripunithura, P T Thomas instead of Behanan at Trikkakara, P Mohan Raj instead of Adoor Prakash in Konni, Sateshan Pacheni instead of Joseph in Irikkur and Neyyattinkara Sanal instead of George in Parassala.
Chandy , however, maintained that there was no chance of withdrawing the candidates already finalized in these seats. The screening committee had a discussion on the remaining seats and it is learnt that candidates for around 50 se dates for around 50 seats have been finalized. Panels of candidates have been prepared for the remaining seats, which will now go before the AICC election committee for the final decision. Sudheeran reportedly took a firm stand in the committee mee ting that those facing allegations and those contesting for more than four times should be omitted from the list. Though Ramesh did not utter a word in protest, Chandy vehemently opposed the proposal.
Chandy later met A K Antony and raised his protest against Sudheeran's proposal. He is learnt to have maintained that he will not accept any list without the names of his trusted lieutenants like Babu, Behanan and Joseph.
It's also learnt that Chandy has decided to come back to Kerala without waiting for the election committee decision on party candidates.The list will be going to AICC president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi for the final clearance. Rahul is expected to meet senior leaders from the state before that. A bevy of leaders from the state is camping in New Delhi to lobby for seats.