Palakkad: Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) digital media cell convener Dr P Sarin slammed the party on Wednesday about its choice of candidate for the Palakkad assembly bypoll.

"If Rahul Mamkootathil loses, Rahul Gandhi will lose. The candidature is not important. Congress needs to win at all costs," Sarin, who was widely expected to be the Congress candidate for Palakkad, said on Wednesday. Reports had suggested that the CPM has offered Sarin a seat in Palakkad. The Congress leader, however, denied that he was leaving the party.

"The party should engage in consultations before arriving at a decision. Why can't the party arrive at a decision which is appealing to everyone. If the party announces Rahul Mamkoottathil's candidature after a review, I would accept that. But it didn't happen. Posting reels on Instagram isn't everything. Going to jail isn't the only kind of sacrifice. You should be able to guide society in the right direction," he said. Sarin added that, despite public mockery, the CPM's ability to "even get a broomstick elected" is a testament to their success.

"I joined politics at the age of 33 in 2016 after leaving the civil services. Many people mocked my choice then. All I needed was a platform to serve the public," Sarin said.

Sarin added that Congress was likely to find a repeat of Haryana elections in Kerala if it continued at the current pace. "I sent a letter to the AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi yesterday ahead of the declaration of candidates. I have spoken about the benefits of choosing me as a candidate in this letter," he said.

Sarin then read the letter: "E Sreedharan got over 50,000 votes in 2021 Assembly Elections. Shafi Parambil won by a narrow margin then. Sreedharan's professional reputation was a key factor in this constituency. My educational background and personal connection with Palakkad voters make me an ideal candidate."

"I respectfully urge party leadership to look at the ground realities of Palakkad instead of yielding to the preferences of a single individual," the letter said.

Meanwhile, Rahul Mamkootathil responded that Sarin will always remain his good friend. He was speaking to the media after meeting senior Congress leader A K Antony. "I am not the person who should respond to Sarin. My candidature was the party's decision. We will win in Palakkad with a huge majority and lower BJP's presence in the constituency. Sarin is my friend, and he will continue to be my friend tomorrow as well. He has good ideals and principles. The current difference of opinion is temporary. Victory should be our priority," he said.

A rift had emerged within the Palakkad District Congress Committee (DCC) following the Congress' announcement that Rahul Mamkootathil was the candidate for the upcoming assembly by-election. According to sources, Mamkootathil's candidature was supported by Shafi Parambil and VD Satheesan. The Palakkad and Chelakkara bypolls were triggered by the victories of Congress MLA Shafi Parambil and CPM MLA K. Radhakrishnan, who won the Vadakara and Alathur Lok Sabha seats, respectively. Congress on Tuesday confirmed Youth Congress State President Rahul Mamkoottathil and former MP Ramya Haridas as the contestants for Palakkad and Chelakkara assembly bypolls. Earlier, the Congress had declared that Priyanka Gandhi would contest the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll.