THRISSUR: With preliminary discussions for seat division in the UDF progressing with each passing day, the indication is that the Congress is set to field new faces in the Puthukkad and Chalakudy constituencies, while maintaining status quo in the rest of the seats.
“We do not expect a major overhaul in the district. However, it will depend on the decision of the party leadership - on whether, or not, to field prospective candidates who face corruption charges and those who have competed four or more terms,” said party sources.
However, it will not be an easy task for the party, which is clamouring to reserve at least four seats for youngsters in the district, which the party does not consider viable. In addition, the recent order by the Thrissur Vigilance Court to file FIR against former district panchayat presidents K V Dasan and C C Sreekumar, and to conduct quick verification against Minister C N Balakrishnan have come as a definite setback for the party.
According to sources, the prospects of K V Dasan and C C Sreekumar to be fielded in Nattika and Chelakkara, respectively, have been adversely affected by the court orders. “Dasan, for instance, has a substantial support base in Nattika,” said a party leader.
In the Thrissur constituency, six-time MLA Therambil Ramakrishnan, KPCC president V M Sudheeran and Padmaja Venugopal are in the list of possible candidates. The Catholic church recently intimated the DCC to field someone other than Therambil in Thrissur, which came as a blow to the senior leader.
Speaking to mediapersons, however, the MLA made it clear that he would act as directed by the party. T N Prathapan MLP is expected to seek people’s verdict in Kaippamangalam. Meanwhile, the possibility of Balakrishnan contesting the elections cannot be ruled out.
According to party insiders, recent reports of Balakrishnan’s daughter C B Geetha entering the poll fray are unsubstantiated.