Karthikeyan’s son is UDF candidate
Mr Sabarinathan’s name was approved by the AICC leadership though the KSU opposed him
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-05-31 05:28 GMT
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The fierce battle of the ballot in Aruvikkara will be between CPM veteran M. Vijayakumar and political greenhorn K. S. Sabarinathan. The UDF on Saturday picked the late Speaker G. Karthikeyan’s younger son K. S. Sabarinathan, 31, as its candidate for the crucial by-election which will be an acid test for the Oommen Chandy government which is immersed in many controversies. The burden of establishing the UDF’s credibility at the hustings fell on the young shoulders of Mr Sabarinathan after the Congress failed to persuade GK’s wife Dr. M. T. Sulekha to join the fray.
Mr Sabarinathan’s name was approved by the AICC leadership though the KSU opposed him initially. But KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran brushed aside the objection saying that it was not a college union election.
Announcing his candidature at the KPCC office on Saturday afternoon, Mr Sudheeran said that the decision was taken unanimously. “We took a collective decision after examining all the sides. Now everyone should work together for the UDF candidate’s victory. It’s not a college union election. If anyone has any complaints regarding the candidature, they should come forward and we will discuss it,” he said. Earlier, KSU state president V.S. Joy had written a letter to Mr Sudheeran opposing Mr Sabarinathan’s candidature. He said that when the party had seasoned leaders, a novice like Mr Sabarinathan should not be fielded. He also demanded that if Mr Karthikeyan’s wife was not willing to be in the fray, the apt candidate would be Mr Sudheeran. But the PCC chief told reporters that before the death of GK, he had apprised Mr Rahul Gandhi about Mr Sabarinathan’s interest in joining politics.
Mr Joy commented on his Facebook post later that the KSU would work for the victory of Mr Sabarinathan, but protested against Mr Sudheeran’s comments. He said the leaders should not try to run down those who had worked as corrective forces right from their KSU days.
Mr Sabarinathan plunged into campaigning from the afternoon itself. He said he would continue the work done by his late father in the constituency. “My father had laid a strong foundation for developments during his tenure as MLA here. I wish to take it forward in the remaining eight months and also take it to the next stage,” said Mr Sabarinathan while meeting the voters at Kuttichal panchayat.