Mullapally Ramachandran won't contest this time

Thiruvananthapuram: Outgoing Lok Sabha member and state Congress President Mullapally Ramachandran said on Tuesday that he will not contest the Lok Sabha elections in Kerala.

The 74-year-old seven-time Lok Sabha member told reporters here that despite making his stand clear, he was again being asked if he will contest this time.

"I wish to make things clear that I am not contesting this time and this was my condition when I was asked to take over as the new President of the state unit," said Ramachandran.

Ramachandran represented Kannur Lok Sabha constituency five times and since 2009 he was the MP from Vadakara.

The CPI-M has fielded former legislator and senior CPI-M leader P. Jayarajan from Vadakara.

Ramachandran wondered why the CPI-M had fielded a person who is an accused in two murder cases and was in jail.

"Am really surprised that the CPI-M failed to get another candidate and had to field a person tainted like Jayarajan," said Ramachandran.