In Kerala, UDF struggles with rebel menace in a few seats

KOCHI: The dissent in the United Democratic Front over official candidates saw no let-up on Monday also. If it was the 'A' group in the Congress protesting against official candidate Sajeev Joseph in Irikkur, Kannur on Sunday, Congress activists in Elathur, Kozhikode on Monday protested against handing over the seat to Mani C Kappan's Nationalist Congress Kerala (NCK).


The local Congress leadership has also threatened to field a rebel candidate in the constituency. “We are not against giving a seat to an alliance partner. The issue is that two Janata Dal leaders who contested for UDF from here are now LDF leaders. Also, the NCK has no activists here," a local Congress leader said.

A section of Congress workers, meanwhile, staged a protest at Thrissur DCC office against the selection of Sunil Anthikkad as the party candidate in Pudukkad seat. Local party workers are seeking a candidate from Pudukkad itself in the constituency.

In Kalamassery, the IUML local leadership has opposed the candidature of V E Abdul Gafoor, son of MLA V K Ebrahim Kunju. The party had finalised Gafoor's candidature after the local leadership demanded dropping Kunju over the Palarivattom flyover case. Talks are on to field Mankada MLA T A Ahamed Kabir in the seat.