The Congress leadership in Kerala has responded coldly to the AICC directive to deny seats to those who have contested three times even as the rival CPI(M) too reversed its earlier decision not to give tickets to those who have contested twice.
This means that both the major parties would be fielding tried and tested faces in most constituencies rather than fresh ones. The clamour of their youth leaders for strong representation may go unheeded this time too.
“I have got no directive from the AICC on not giving tickets to those who have contested thrice,” KPCC president, Ramesh Chennithala, told this newspaper. “Of course, there is a general feeling in the party that youngsters should be given more chances and we will heed that.”
The Opposition leader, Mr Oommen Chandy, who is contesting for the 10th time, also said that he was unaware of any such order. “Our criterion will always be winnability,” he said, making it clear that the state unit will decide according to its own priorities. “Youth leaders always make demands.”
The AICC directive, of course, is not carved on stone and the high command is not expecting leaders like Mr Chandy to make way for others.
But if implemented, it could mean that dozens of key leaders including Mr G. Karthikeyan, Mr Aryadan Mohammed, Mr K.C. Joseph and Mr Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, among others would have to sit on the ringside. The Congress believes that their absence could hurt its chances. Likewise, the CPI(M) had also initially toyed with the idea of denying tickets to those who had contested twice. But the fear of a tough fight in Kerala and West Bengal has prompted it to choose candidates according to the “winnability” factor.