Trinamool Congress Kerala leader PV Anvar, who contested as a UDF candidate from Beypore, on Sunday said that instead of debating the Congress’s chief minister candidate, the discussion should be on who will be the Leader of the Opposition from the CPI(M). Anvar, who was part of the LDF and exited the front following differences with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, contested the Assembly election from Beypore in Kozhikode.
Speaking to reporters, Anvar said he would not interfere in or comment on the Congress’s chief minister candidate, as the party has its own system and mechanism to decide on the candidate.
"There have to be discussions on whether Vijayan or his son-in-law PA Mohammed Riyas will sit in the seat of Leader of the Opposition. The LDF will face a heavy loss in the election and will not have more than 35 MLAs," he said.
A Suresh, a former staff member of CPI(M) leader VS Achuthanandan, was also present with Anvar.
Suresh contested the election from Malampuzha in Palakkad as a UDF candidate.
"I am sure that Suresh will win from Malampuzha because we know the sentiments of comrades. It is the genuine comrades who want to end ‘Pinarayism’ in Kerala. Electing a person like Suresh to the Assembly is the demand of farmers, workers and common people in Malampuzha," he said.
He said the Congress at least has multiple names to be considered for the chief minister’s post, whereas there are no such second or third options in the CPI(M).
"It is a democratic system. See how diverse it is that Congress has three or four leaders capable of becoming the chief minister. There is no difference of opinion over it in Congress," he said.
He also said that differences over the CM's post had existed between V S Achuthanandan and Vijayan.
"In the 2011 Assembly election, CPI(M) fielded weak candidates and several Communist leaders were purposefully defeated, fearing that if the LDF retained power, Achuthanandan would become chief minister. Such a situation has not happened in Congress so far," he claimed.
When asked about his preference between V D Satheesan, K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala for the chief minister’s post, Anvar said all of them are his well-wishers and that he maintains a good relationship with them.
The elections for 140 Assembly seats in Kerala were held on April 9 and the results will be declared on May 4.
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