While more voices of dissent against groupism is putting the Kerala Congress in a tight spot, the party national leadership is learnt to be actively considering to field top leaders in seats that may witness tight fights in the upcoming election.
According to sources, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy may be fielded at Nemom in Thiruvananthapuram, which is the lone seat the BJP won in Kerala for the first time in 2016 Assembly polls. The aim is to send a strong message of putting up a strong fight against the BJP.
Oommen Chandy has been representing Puthupally in Kottayam district for over 50 years. Chandy's son Chandy Oommen, who is also active in politics, is being considered at Puthupally, said sources.
Chennithala, who is now representing Harippad constituency in Alappuzha district, was asked to consider Vattiyoorkavu in Thiruvananthapuram, which is also likely to witness a tight triangular fight. Congress MP K Muraleedharan, who was a former MLA of Vattiyoorkavu, was also learnt to have expressed his desire to contest from any key constituency in Thiruvananthapuram.
There has been widespread resentment in the party that senior leaders often opt for easy seats and newcomers are fielded at seats where the chances are feeble. Congress is expected to finalise the candidate list by Friday evening.
Meanwhile, more voice of dissent against groupism by leaders were coming up. After senior leader P C Chacko quitting the party expressing protest against groupism, a senior party leader and former MLA from Palakkad district also came out in the open flaying groupism in the party and made a threat to leave the party.
A V Gopinathan, who is a district Congress committee president of Palakkad district, is locking horns with the party leadership. He even gave an ultimatum to the party till Friday to take a decision on his demands. Groupism in the party should end, he said.
Weakening of the Congress in Palakkad district may benefit the BJP which is trying to cash in on the Hindu vote banks of the district.