Cong not to heed demand of front constituents for RS seat

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 15 (UNI) The Congress in Kerala today decided to field its own candidate for one of the three Rajya Sabha seats from where the Opposition combine can win with its present strength in the state Assembly.

However, the Kerala Congress (M), which was promised the next Rajya Sabha seat when it fell vacant last time, was up in arms against the stand of the Congress. The Indian Union Muslim League, the second largest constituent of the United Democratic Front(UDF), also put forward its claim.

''Yes, they have the legitimate claim. But considering the present political scenario, the Congress needs the Rajya Sabha seat,'' KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala told newspersons here.

The Congrees was trying to persuade the coalition partners to give up their claim in this context, he added.

He said a three-member panel, comprising former Chief Ministers A K Antony and Oommen Chandy and the KPCC president, had been constituted to propose the name of the Rajya Sabha candidate which would be announced by party president Sonia Gandhi tomorrow.

He said the KPCC executive which met here for the past two days reviewed the reasons for the party's debacle in the recent Assembly elections. A five-member panel headed by Mr P P George had been constituted to suggest measures to strengthen the party.

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