Party workers and leaders expressing differences of opinion is part of the democratic set-up in the Congress party and my initial statements regarding the candidate selection in Thiruvalla should be taken in this spirit, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha P.J. Kurien has said.
Prof. Kurien was inaugurating an election convention of the United Democratic Front in Thiruvalla on Thursday evening.
He said he believed in plain speaking and his opposition to the fielding of Kerala Congress(M) general secretary Joseph M. Puthussery as UDF candidate in Thiruvalla should be taken in that respect.
‘Issue sorted out’
The issue had been sorted out at a meeting of UDF leaders, he said.
The Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman said he would lead the election campaign of Mr. Puthussery and see to it that the latter won the election by a margin of not less than 15,000 votes. Prof. Kurien said the people of Kerala would accept Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s plea for the continuance of the UDF government for a second term. He said Mr. Chandy had proved himself the best Chief Minister Kerala had produced.
Addressing the meeting, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the election manifesto released by the Left Democratic Front was in support of the liquor lobby.
Dismissive of his earlier opposition to the UDF candidate in Thiruvalla
