New Delhi, March 19 The Congress leadership is grappling with the question of whether to allow MPs to contest the upcoming Kerala Assembly polls, which has stalled the party's second list of candidates for the state, sources said on Thursday.
The Congress is also reportedly working to pacify its Member of Parliament from Kannur, K Sudhakaran, who was upset after his name was not cleared by the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) for contesting the Kerala polls.
In signs that he has been placated, Sudhakaran said he would not contest the Kerala polls without the party's permission.
He also dispelled speculation that he would quit the Congress and form another party or join some other political front, saying, "Where will I go?"
When asked if he would contest the Kerala polls as an Independent candidate, the Kannur MP said, "No, nothing like that. I will only contest if I have the party's permission, otherwise not."
"The party has not pushed me out. It has only denied me a seat. I will stay and work for the party. I am no one to challenge it as the party is so much bigger and I am so small."
"I will accept the party's decision," Sudhakaran told reporters as he left his accommodation in New Delhi for the airport to return to Kerala.
Noting that the party is bigger than him, he said, "I will obediently follow the party's directions. That is my decision. I will move forward accordingly."
Sources said Sudhakaran was scheduled to address the media at the Kerala House in Delhi on Thursday and announce some decisions, but was pacified after the intervention of top leaders, including former defence minister and party veteran A K Antony.
The sources said after his name was not cleared by the Congress, Sudhakaran reportedly said "good bye" to K C Venugopal and some other leaders during telephonic conversations, putting the party on the spot.
Sudhakaran eventually did not address the media and the sources said he has been given some assurances by senior leaders.
The CEC has left it to the Congress high-command to take a call on whether to allow MPs to contest the upcoming Assembly elections or not.
If allowed, this will lead to Lok Sabha bypolls and the Congress leadership does not want to lose any seat in the Lower House of Parliament.
Leader of Opposition in Kerala V D Satheesan is learnt to have strongly opposed any move to allow MPs to contest the Assembly polls in the southern state.
The sources said Sudhakaran, a veteran Congress leader who has been a minister in Kerala in the past, is keen to contest the upcoming polls from the Kannur Assembly seat, but the party is yet to take a call on the matter.
The sources also said at least five MPs, including Attingal MP Adoor Prakash, also a former minister in Kerala, wish to contest the Assembly polls.
Besides, Congress's chief whip in the Lok Sabha Kodikunnil Suresh and Lok Sabha MPs from Vadakara and Kozhikode Shafi Parambil and M K Raghavan are also hoping to try their luck in the upcoming polls, even though they have remained silent so far and not spoken openly about it. However, they would abide by the party's decision, the sources said.
They added that Venugopal, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary, organisation, may also be interested in having a key role in Kerala if the party comes to power in the state, but has not spoken about this so far.
The Congress has declared its first list of 55 candidates for Kerala. The party is contesting 92 seats in the state.
The last date for filing nominations for the Kerala polls is March 23. The polling will be held on April 9 and the counting of votes will be taken up on May 4. The tenure of the current Kerala Assembly ends on May 23.