The party braved internal pressures to take the policy decision to bank on its Kerala leadership rather than sending parliamentarians to fight the Assembly polls.
The pressure on the party seemed immense when Kannur MP K Sudhakaran threatened to quit, even saying “good bye” to leaders after learning that his name was not considered for the Kannur Assembly seat.
However, several leaders pacified Sudhakaran and also convinced him to abide by the party’s decision.
Sudhakaran abided by the party’s decision and said he would not contest the Kerala polls without the party’s permission.
He also put to rest speculation that he would quit the Congress and form another party or join some other political front, saying, “Where will I go?”
Asked if he would contest the Kerala polls as an Independent candidate, he said, “No, nothing like that. I will contest if I have the party’s permission, otherwise not. I will accept the party’s decision.”
Noting that the party is bigger than him, he said, “I will obediently follow the party’s directions. That is my decision. I will move forward accordingly.” Sources said Sudhakaran was to address the media at the Kerala House in Delhi on March 19 and announce decisions, but was pacified after the intervention of top leaders, including former defence minister and party veteran AK Antony.
Sudhakaran eventually did not address the media.
The Central Election Committee (CEC) of Congress had left it to the party high command to decide whether to allow MPs to contest the upcoming Assembly elections or not.
With a second list of 37 candidates on Thursday, the Congress has now declared candidates for all 92 of the 140 Assembly seats it is contesting in Kerala.
Sources said the top Congress leadership took the call of not fielding any MPs despite pressure from some who were keen to contest the Assembly polls and return to the state.
The decision sends a clear message to the Congress’s opponents, who were targeting party for planning to field MPs in the Assembly elections.
If allowed, this would have led to Lok Sabha bypolls, and the Congress leadership does not want to lose any seat in the Lower House of Parliament.
Leader of Opposition in Kerala VD Satheesan is learnt to have strongly opposed any move to allow MPs to contest the Assembly polls in the southern state.
Sources said Sudhakaran, a veteran Congress leader who has been a minister in Kerala in the past, was keen to contest the upcoming polls from the Kannur Assembly seat.
The sources also said at least five MPs, including Attingal MP Adoor Prakash (another former Kerala minister), wanted to contest the Assembly polls.
The Congress declared its second list of 37 candidates for the Kerala polls late on Thursday evening. It had declared its first list of 55 candidates two days ago.
The last date for filing nominations for the Kerala polls is March 23. Polling will be held on April 9, and counting on May 4. The tenure of the current Kerala Assembly ends on May 23.
