Big post on mind,Cong rivals stack up numbers

What has given a new dimension to the factionalism is Chennithalas decision to contest.

The race for election tickets in Kerala has redefined a wedge in the state Congress,with factions once led by A K Antony and the late K Karunakaran now being headed by KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala and Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy.

What has given a new dimension to the factionalism is Chennithalas decision to contest. Congress legislator B Babu Prasad,who represents Harippad,had to step out to make room for Chennithala.

Although Chennithala has said Chandy would lead the party in the Assembly,the formers entry must have left the latter uncomfortable. In a state known for alternate rule,many in the Congress believe it is their turn. The support of elected members will be crucial in selecting who will lead the party in the House; hence,both Chennithala and Chandy want to ensure as many seats for their loyalists as possible.

As a result,protests have erupted across the state. M V Jaya Dali,a Youth Congress leader,has quit,saying she was denied a seat because she did not belong to either group. Dali said tickets are being given only to those who carry Chennithalas bag and those who lick his boots.

On Tuesday,Congress workers stormed the district committee office in Palakkad,demanding that their leader A V Gopinath get a ticket for Palakkad,where the party has decided to field Shafi Parambil,state president of the student wing.

The most disgruntled are followers of K Muraleedharan,recently back in the party after a six-year suspension. Senior leader N Peethambara Kurup said loyalists of the late K Karunakaran should not be neglected. We have given a list of 10. The Congress should not choose between Karunakarans children Padmaja Venugopal and Muraleedhran; both are eligible. A leader said,Only leaders of these two groups are in the final list of prospective candidates. Those close to K Muraleedharan have been ignored. Muraleedharan had given a list of seven,including his own,but the leadership has allegedly rejected it though it is said to be undecided about Muraleedharan and his sister.

Former MLA K Muhammedali has revolted against reports that Aluva is being given to KPCC spokesperson M M Hassan,an Antony loyalist. Muhammedali has contested from Aluva several times.

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One of Chandys many worries is that the UDF has many Christian leaders. If the Congress wins,some of these leaders might have to be accommodated in the Cabinet and this could affect Chandys own prospects. Chennithala has the support of the upper class Hindu Nair community,whose relations with the Congress has not always been rosy.

The Congress is also struggling to accommodate the Catholic Churchs wishes. The Catholic diocese of Thrissur has furnished a list of four. In Alapuzha,the Congress has selected a lawyer whose name was suggested by the Latin Catholic Church.

The Congress is contesting 81 of 140 seats. It has decided to give ticket to all sitting 23 legislators,some of them in politics for more than a quarter of a century.