Suhdeeran no' to contesting from thrissur

Thiruvananthapuram: The Thrissur DCC will send three-name candidature panel each to the AICC for Thrissur and Chalakudy Lok Sabha seats.   While former KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran is under consideration, he's rooting for T. N. Prathapan.

Rumours have been rife that Mr Sudheeran will contest from either Thrissur or Chalakudy, though he vehemently denies it.  Sources close to him told DC that it would have been a sure seat for the Congress if he contested. “But at the same time, he has been alienated from a section of the party leaders. He has an apprehension of party members playing spoilsport,” he said.  "He is popular among the masses and has been a crusader against the quarry and liquor lobbies as well as the land encroachers.”

Mr Prathapan belongs to the Dheevara community and is the chairman of the All India Fisherm-en Congress. The three-time legislator (2001 and 2006 from Nattika and 2011 from Kodungallur) has been a loyalist of Mr Sudheeran.

Other names doing the rounds are that of Youth Congress president Dean Kuriakose. “Mr Kuriako-se is also being considered as there are chances of a CWC member contesting from Idukki or even it's going to the KC (M),” an A group leader told DC.  "Only after the bilateral talks with the allies, serious deliberations on Congress candidates will begin.”

A senior ‘I’ group leader told DC that Mr Sudhe-eran ideal for Thrissur Chalakudy as an Ezhava candidate.

K. P. Dhanapalan, who is also Ezhava, had represented Chalakudy in 2009 LS elections and lost in 2014 in Thrissur after he had to swap the seat for P. C. Chacko.