Chandy challenge: Let people judge me

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Setting aside differences with his state unit chief and welcoming the candidate list released by the high command, CM Oommen Chandy Tuesday launched his campaign tour inaugurating an election convention in Kollam. The CM kicked off his campaign the very next day after Delhi released the list of nominees to quell brewing unrest among cadres.
At Kollam he unleashed a scathing attack on opposition leader V S Achuthanandan. “I have been facing allegations for some time. Now, it's time for people to judge.Let them defeat (me) if there is any substance in the allegations. Those who run after allegations will lose face,“ Chandy said referring to allegations against him in the solar scam.

The CM demanded an answer from VS on the candidature of K B Ganesh Kumar who was ousted from his cabinet following a domestic violence complaint filed by his wife. Ganesh is contesting from Pathanampuram as LDF candidate.

Though the candidate list which drawn up by the high command after eight days of discussion has been welcomed by both Chandy and KPCC president V M Sudheeran, everything isn't hunky-dory at the grassroots. The INTUC state unit has threatened not to join the campaign against the neglect of its nominees.

“There was no discussion at the district level.Our opinion was not sought.Decisions were taken by V M Sudheeran and Oommen Chandy . There was no demo cratic process involved in candidate selection,'' said INTUC state president R Chandrasekharan.

Four district Congress committee presidents are protesting against denial of seats. The Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Kozhikode and Alappuzha district chiefs had expected seats but were not given.

In Thrissur the party faces severe infighting since the “I“ group isn't happy with the choice of candidates. Even though two sitting MLAs Therambil Ramakrishnan and C N Balakrishnan have opted out of the fray, their nominees were not considered by the leadership.