The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) State leadership is understood to have zeroed in on a woman candidate for contesting the Kuttanad Assembly byelection.
The party leadership would meet on Tuesday and prepare a panel of three names, including the woman leader who is active in national-level organisational activities, and forward it to the central leadership for final approval.
Proposal
Sources told The Hindu that the proposal to field the woman candidate has gathered momentum in the wake of Thomas K. Thomas, brother of the deceased member Thomas Chandy, Salim P. Mathew and some other regional leaders staking a claim for the seat. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) State leadership and Communist Party of India (Marxist) district leaders are reportedly not keen on fielding either Mr. Thomas or the other leaders. This would give way for the woman candidate.
LDF confident
The LDF exudes confidence of retaining the seat with a comfortable majority and hence it would take due care to avoid a row over the candidate, the sources said.
The claims made by P.J. Joseph and Jose K. Mani, leaders of two warring factions in the Kerala Congress (M), for fielding their nominees, the alleged failure of the Congress in containing the raging differences of opinion among the two and the strain in the relations between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena are all expected to work to the advantage of the LDF.
Cong. candidate?
The Congress is seriously considering to take over the seat and field its candidate.
The government declaration on the completion of 2 lakh houses under the Life Mission for indigent and weaker sections and the opening of a food court for dishing meals at ₹25 in Alappuzha district have all emboldened the LDF to face elections with confidence. A decision would be made very soon, sources said.
