Late Oommen Chandy's son Chandy Oommen (file photo)
Thiruvananthapuram: Following the death of Congress leader and former chief minister Oommen Chandy, the Congress looks eager to capitalise on the wave of people's sympathy for the party and the family, more specifically in the by-poll that will be held to fill his vacancy in the Puthuppally assembly constituency.
Going a step further, the Congress leadership seems to be seeking more as reflected in the call by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President K Sudhakaran to elect the late leader's son Chandy Oommen unopposed from the constituency. Although this puts the ruling party, the CPI-M in a dilemma, the Congress realises that the possible disadvantage of a candidate other than Chandy this time, can also be overcome.
Chandy Oommen is the lone descendant in the family into politics and his sister has already ruled out any political ambitions of succeeding her father.
It may be recalled that the CPI-M candidate in the 2021 assembly had won by a relatively narrow majority of about 9000 votes to Chandy, which the ruling LDF attributes mostly to the huge popularity of the then invincible Oommen Chandy who also had the rare record of being MLA from the same Puthuppally for 53 years.
At Chandy's memorial meeting organised by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee here on Monday evening, Sudhakaran's statement was followed up by former state party president and veteran Congressman V.M. Sudheeran.
"Present are the leading lights of Kerala politics and I feel there is no better way to repay the love and affection that Chandy showered on all. As a mark of respect to that, let us join hands to script a new model in democracy by ensuring that we allow his son, who is in all likelihood to be fielded as the successor to Chandy's legacy, by electing him unopposed", said Sudheeran.
"If this happens, it will be the first time such a thing has happened in Kerala. Moreover, for us to engage in a political battle the rest of our state is there, where we all can engage in taking on one another politically. All should think on what I have said," added Sudheeran.
Hearing the words of Sudheeran was none other than Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who also paid glowing tributes to his arch political rival, Chandy, but the Chief Minister chose to keep silent on the matter at the venue.
Although the actual election will be held in all probability only three months hence, the electoral ball has by now been set rolling with the Kerala Legislative secretariat sending a letter to the Election Commission on the Puthuppally Assembly seat falling vacant. It is now for the Commission to decide when the bypoll should be held.
Ruling Left Democratic Front ( LDF) convenor E.P. Jayarajan has virtually ruled out LDF's gifting a seat as courtesy to the opposition, saying that showing respect and honour is different from politics. He said the decision on contesting would be made at the leadership level of the LDF.
The BJP, which as the third party in the equations has not expressed any views and is likely to come up with its position only in due course.
(With inputs from IANS)