The Hindu : Congressmen start lobbying for RS seats

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 26, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Congressmen start lobbying for RS seats

By Girish Menon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM FEB. 25. Congressmen have started lobbying for a ticket for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Kerala. Three seats are falling vacant in April and these include that of P Chitharanjan, CPI, C. O. Paulose and S. Ramachandran Pillai.

Given the present composition of the State Assembly, the UDF can get two representatives elected. The Congress at present does not have any representation from Kerala in the Rajya Sabha and, therefore, it is sure to stake claim for both the seats, unless the UDF partners demand a seat.

The UDF has not discussed the question of seat sharing, but it is generally assumed that the Congress would field its nominees. AICC general secretary, Vayalar Ravi, is sure to get a ticket, throwing up the remaining seat for grabs.

The Karunakaran faction would naturally stake a claim for a seat. Even though Padmaja Venugopal's name has been doing its rounds, the KPCC president, K. Muraleedharan, is reportedly in favour of his close aide, K. P. Kunhikannan. The KPCC vice- president, P. P. Thankachan, is also another aspirant from the Karunakaran group. His candidature is being discussed in terms of the communal balance that needs to be maintained. Mrs. Venugopal might get the seat if Mr. Karunakaran were to make a formal demand, but the general expectation is that the veteran would not put up such a request on his own.

The Antony group is also planning a counter-strategy and the focal point at this point of time is to thwart Mr. Karunakaran's moves. As per this, the faction might not oppose if the former KPCC president, Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, is nominated. The strategy is to capitalise on the general anti-Karunakaran attitude the party high command has been adopting in recent months. Mr. Pillai has been nursing his wounds following his unceremonious exit as the KPCC president.

Mr. Kunhikannan's name has cropped up as Mr. Muraleedharan is keen to ensure a berth for his closest ally in the Karunakaran group. But the final word would naturally rest with Mr. Karunakaran, who has so far not revealed his mind.

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