KC Venugopal opts out, says too busy in Delhi

Thiruvananthapuram: Alappuzha sitting MP K.C. Venugopal has shocked his supporters by opting out of the electoral battle on the ground that he is shouldering heavy responsibilities in Delhi.

A day ahead of the AICC’s screening committee meeting in New Delhi, he told the media that he could not do justice to the voters in Alappuzha by sitting in Delhi. The overenthusiastic partymen had begun campaigning for him in the constituency through wall writings and banners.

The fresh hopefuls for the seat include B. Babu Prasad, A. A. Shukoor and Shanimol Usman.

Venugopal, 56, has been vested with many responsibilities like AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, AICC’s organising general secretary and member of Congress Working Committee and the AICC screening committee.

“I have been bestowed with various organisational responsibilities by the AICC. So it is unfair for me to contest from Alappuzha at this juncture,” he said.

Venugopal had won from Alappuzha in 2009 defeating CPM’s Dr. K. S. Manoj by 57, 635 votes and in 2014 trouncing CPM’s C. B. Chandra-babu by a margin of 19, 407 votes. Alappuzha was till then considered as a Left stronghold.

A senior Congress leader from Alappuzha told DC that the AICC has to identify an appropriate replacement for Venugopal.

“Ever since former Haripad MLA Babu Prasad offered his seat to Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala in the 2011 Assembly elections, Chennithala had wanted to reward him. He is backing Babu Prasad. Former MLA Shukoor and Shanimol Usman will be considered only if Babu Prasad opts out,” he said.

Shanimol Usman is currently eyeing Wayanad. Alappuzha DCC president M. Liju will not contest the LS elections as he wants to fight the 2021 Assembly polls.