Now, ball is in Sonia Gandhi's court

Thiruvananthapuram: The ball is in the court of Congress president Sonia Gandhi to resolve the dispute over  candidates in Kerala with the central election committee also failing to take a final decision on Friday.

The committee is scheduled to meet again at the residence of chairman Mallikarjun Kharge at 9.30 a.m. on Saturday. KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran told  reporters in Delhi that the candidate selection was in the final stages. “There is good progress in the discussions. The talks  with coalition partners are not over. The list would be announced   together,”  Mr Sudheeran said.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy met senior  leader A.K. Antony along with Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala. It is learnt that Mr Sudheeran, who was adamant on not fielding  Mr Adoor Prakash in Konni,  was finally convinced that it would be difficult to face the polls if he stuck to his stand.  Later,   Mr Antony talked to Mr Sudheeran and is understood to have persuaded him  to be flexible.