Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala said here on Sunday that he would seek a clarification from United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate for Piravom bypolls Anoop Jacob regarding the allegation that he had not disclosed the fact that he was an accused in a case in his affidavit while filing the nomination papers.
Talking to reporters, Mr.Chennithala said he did not know the details aboutthe issue. “It was but natural for politicians to be made accused in some case or the other. In this case I do not know the facts,” he said.
He said the charge against Mr. Anoop would not affect his candidature for the bypolls.. Asked about allegations that the UDF had masterminded the resignation of CPI (M) MLA
R. Selvaraj, Mr. Chennithala said the resignation showed the extent to which the CPI(M) had degenerated. “People are deserting the party every day. Mr. Selvaraj was in the fray for
Assembly elections three times and became MLA twice. He was in the good books of the CPI(M) when he was MLA. How does he suddenly become a bad person after resignation, Mr. Chennithala wondered.
Asked about the UDF candidate in Neyyattinkara, he said since election for the constituency had not been declared yet, it would be premature to talk about such issues.
Referring to allegations of horse trading by the UDF on the issue of Mr.Selvaraj's resignation, Mr. Chennithala said these allegations were being raised by people who could not retain the
MLA in the party. Mr. Selvaraj himself had declared that he was quitting as it was difficult for him to remain in the party.
Regarding the allegation raised by the LDF that Administrative Sanction (AS) for a huge amount had been sanctioned to Mr. Selvaraj's constituency last week by the UDF government, the Congress leader said AS for works costing Rs. 25 crore had been sanctioned for his own constituency, Harippad, recently and it was only natural that the government would give AS to a lot of projects before the financial year closes on March 31.
