THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Responding to reports that the CPI will request the Congress not to field Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad for the Lok Sabha polls as it will weaken the INDIA front’s joint fight against the BJP, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal on Saturday said it is up to the party to take a call on from where the Congress leader will contest the elections. He said no other party has a role to play in the internal affairs of the Congress and that it has not yet kick-started the discussions to select the candidates for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.
“The election committee of the Congress finalizes and decides on the candidates,” said K C Venugopal.
At the national council meeting of the CPI held in New Delhi, it was reported that the leaders were of the view that since the CPI is an ally of the INDIA front, Rahul Gandhi should not contest in Wayanad against a Left candidate and that he should choose another seat outside Kerala to fight against the BJP.
It is learned that the CPI has taken such a decision since it has been contesting from Wayanad ever since the formation of the Lok Sabha constituency.
Rahul had defeated CPI candidate P P Suneer in the last Lok Sabha election with a margin of 4.31 lakh votes. Hence, it figures that if Rahul takes on the CPI candidate again, it would be a jolt for the INDIA front.
KPCC president K Sudhakaran too hit out at the CPI for interfering in the internal matters of the Congress. An ally cannot decide what other parties should do, he said, and asserted that Rahul will contest from Wayanad.
The CPM state leadership, meanwhile, chose to disagree with CPI. CPM central committee member A K Balan said the right to pick their candidates rests with the respective parties and that other parties have no role in it.
“The election committee of the Congress finalizes and decides on the candidates,” said K C Venugopal.
At the national council meeting of the CPI held in New Delhi, it was reported that the leaders were of the view that since the CPI is an ally of the INDIA front, Rahul Gandhi should not contest in Wayanad against a Left candidate and that he should choose another seat outside Kerala to fight against the BJP.
It is learned that the CPI has taken such a decision since it has been contesting from Wayanad ever since the formation of the Lok Sabha constituency.
Rahul had defeated CPI candidate P P Suneer in the last Lok Sabha election with a margin of 4.31 lakh votes. Hence, it figures that if Rahul takes on the CPI candidate again, it would be a jolt for the INDIA front.
KPCC president K Sudhakaran too hit out at the CPI for interfering in the internal matters of the Congress. An ally cannot decide what other parties should do, he said, and asserted that Rahul will contest from Wayanad.
The CPM state leadership, meanwhile, chose to disagree with CPI. CPM central committee member A K Balan said the right to pick their candidates rests with the respective parties and that other parties have no role in it.
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