Assembly polls: Congress not to hurry with finalisation of candidates list

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress will be going slow on finalisation of its candidates list for Kerala Assembly elections as polling is more than two months away.

The initial plan was to submit a short list of candidates with a maximum of four choices for each constituency to the AICC today. Now, it has been decided that the selection process could continue for a few more days before the preliminary list is drawn up. Talks in this respect will continue on Sunday.

Signs of dissidence have emerged in the Congress as the discussions progressed. Former member of the Assembly Shobhana George indicated on Saturday that she would contest in Chengannur against Congress candidate if P. C. Vishnunath is given the party ticket.

The party has decided that former defence minister A. K. Antony will be fielded as it candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections from Kerala.

Meanwhile, more leaders have quit the Kerala Congress (M) to join the splinter group led by Francis George. They included general secretary Vakkachan Mattathil and Secretariat member Jose Kuchupura

In the LDF, the CPI continued to pitch for Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan. Party leader C. Divakaran said that Mr. Achuthanandan should be leading the Front in the elections. Debates like whether Mr. Achuthanandan and Pinarai Vijayan both should contest or who should be the Chief Minister candidate smacked of bourgeoisie approach, he criticised.