CPI-M's candidate selection shows party's decay: Sudheeran

Thiruvananthapuram, March 16: Taking a swipe at the CPI-M, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President V M Sudheeran today said its selection of five non-members to contest the April 10 Lok Sabha elections clearly demonstrated the party's process of "decline".

Speaking at the KPCC campaign committee meeting here, he said selecting five non-party persons without any public service or political background and ideology as independent candidates by CPI-M could be construed as the party's decay.

Maintaining that Congress-led UDF had already made good progress in campaign, he said unlike earlier times, the party and front could finalise its seat sharing and candidates selection without any hitch in a short period of time.

UDF election convention of many of constituencies had already began and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will attend the convention at Kollam today, he pointed out. Justifying UDF decision to induct RSP, which was part of LDF till recently, Sudheeran said RSP was part of UDF for a long time previously.

"They were part of UDF for a long time and for a short period they parted ways with us," he said. In an apparent reference to the controversial remark of AICC spokesperson P C Chacko and Congress candidate from Chalakudy that the situation in the country was not in favour of UPA, he said, "Leaders should speak each word with great caution".

"Persons in responsible position should make their comments very carefully, Sudheeran said. Exuding confidence, Sudheeran said, "No one should have any doubt on the fact that UPA-led Congress will form the next government in the country."

In an embarrassment to Congress, Chacko had stated yesterday that present political situation was not favourable to the UPA and had also did not rule out the possibility of Congress sitting in the opposition benches in Parliament.

The KPCC chief had yesterday itself disagreed with Chacko's views and said action would be taken against persons who make statements "dwarfing the Congress' winning chances."

PTI