Kozhikode: Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief Mullappally Ramachandran confirmed on Thursday that he will not contest the Lok Sabha polls from his sitting seat of Vadakara. However, Mullappally said that he would be a strong presence in the constituency.
“Whoever may be the candidate, I will be 'half the candidate' in Vadakara,” Mullappally said at Kalpetta during his Janamahayathra.
Mullappally later reiterated his stance at Mukkom in Kozhikode district. He will be campaigning in Kozhikode on Friday also.
Mullappally stressed that the party would consider only the winning possibility of the candidate in the selection procedures. However, he evaded questions on why he was not in the fray despite having a very good chance of winning.
In the reception at Mananthavady, allies including Indian Union Muslim League and Kerala Congress (Jacob) had openly requested Mullappally to contest from Wayanad constituency, if he was adamant on not contesting from Vadakara.
With Mullappally's withdrawal, citing the precedence of KPCC chiefs not contesting the elections, Kerala Students Union state president K M Abhijith has emerged as the front-runner for the Vadakara seat. Abhijith had openly challenged discussions involving candidature of daughter of late Wayanad MP MI Shanavas – Amina – at Wayanad.
