: With one day left for withdrawing the nominations to the local body elections, political fronts are working overtime persuading rebel candidates to pull themselves out of the race.
All political formations are dealing with the rebels with utmost care as they could eventually decide on the winning chances of the official candidates.
The UDF and the Congress seem to be most hit by rebels in its battle to retain the Kochi Corporation as around 15 candidates have filed their nominations in divisions where the front and the party have fielded their official candidates.
T.K. Shamsudheen, a CPI(M) councillor for two terms and also former Welfare Standing Committee chairman of the Kochi Corporation, has filed his nomination paper to contest as an independent candidate from Thazhappu in West Kochi area. T.S. Subair is the CPI (M) candidate from the division.
The CPI(M) sources indicated that efforts were on to discourage the rebel from contesting the election and to pave way for the official candidate.
Sunitha Dixon, a sitting councillor of the Congress from Vyttila, has also announced her candidature protesting against the denial of berth. Former Congress councillors V.J. Hyacinth and C.K. Gopalan are also in the fray.
N.A. Roy, husband of outgoing councillor Suja Roy, has filed nomination paper from Giri Nagar Division. The Congress has nominated P.D. Martin as its official candidate for the division.
T.K. Ramesh, an INTUC leader, will contest from Ayyappankavu division where the party has deputed Youth Congress leader Deepak Joy to contest from the party symbol. V.J. Poulose, the president of the Ernakulam District Congress Committee, said the party leaders at various levels were trying to win over those candidates who have filed their nomination papers ignoring party suggestions. Some candidates, who could not be accommodated due to the reservation patterns and other factors, have filed their nomination papers. Most of them would withdraw their candidature by October 17. Party leaders from the respective areas have been instructed to sort out the issue before Saturday, he said.
