Kerala polls: Congress releases 2nd list, MP Sudhakaran agrees to stay away | India News
Thiruvananthapuram: Ending days of uncertainty, the Congress on Thursday released its second list of 37 candidates in Kerala, completing the selection process for the 95 seats the party will contest in the state. As per the directives of the party high command, no sitting MP contested the assembly elections.The names in the second list include Mohammad Sheas of Kochi, Sandeep Varyar of Trikaripur, Avin Varke of Aranmula, KS Sabrinadhan of Nemom and Teo Mohanan of Kannur.
The selection process, however, was not without internal differences. Amid hints that the party may field its critic and former mayor Mohanan from Kannur, former KPCC president K Sudhakaran expressed his displeasure, even hinting that he may contest as an independent candidate.On Thursday, however, Sudhakaran ruled out contesting as an independent from Kannur, insisting that he would remain loyal to the party. Sources indicated that Sudhakaran has softened his stance after senior Congress leader AK Antony stepped in to defuse the crisis and party president Mallikarjun Kharge personally intervened, reaching out to the former head of state and urging restraint.In Kochi, Deepti Mary Varghese was among the frontrunners, but the leadership backed the nominee supported by opposition leader VD Satisan.
