THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury , who reached the state capital for election campaign, said it was not the CPM which needs to make a comment on Rahul Gandhi’s candidature in Wayanad Yechury said deciding on the candidates was the internal matter of a political party and no other party needed to intervene in that. “The priority of the CPM is to oust Narendra Modi from power,” he said, adding that the LDF would register a thumping win in Kerala.Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, who met reporters here on Saturday, expressed hope that Rahul would contest from Wayanad. He said that the state’s Congress leaders and the people want Rahul to contest from the state. “If Rahul contests from south India, it will be a major boost not just for the Congress in south India, but also the other secular parties,” he said. He added that it was the CPM that seemed to be worried about Rahul contesting in south, which was strange.Chennithala also said that the final decision on Rahul contesting from Wayanad would be taken by the party high command, which would not get delayed further. Criticising the CPM’s fluctuating stands in the election, Chennithala said the CPM state leadership was the major hurdle on the way of forming a secular front at the national level.Kozhikode: Expressing displeasure over the inordinate delay in the declaration of Congress candidate in Wayanad, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has urged the AICC to take a decision at the earliest.Talking to reporters after the party leaders’ meeting at the residence of Panakkad Syed Hyder Ali Thangal at Malappuram, IUML national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty said Thangal himself has conveyed the message to the Congress high command.“We expect the Congress leadership to take a decision soon. UDF is ahead in campaigning in other constituencies, but the delay in fixing the candidate in Wayanad will affect other constituencies too. It is up to the Congress to take an appropriate decision,” he said. Kunhalikutty said there was no change in the IUML’s earlier stand and the party whole-heartedly welcomes the AICC president Rahul Gandhi to Wayanad.He said there was no discussion on the loss of representation to the Muslim community if Rahul decides to contest Wayanad seat. IUML leaders, including Thangal, Kunhalikutty, K P A Majeed, M K Muneer and others met on Saturday, after the Wayanad district committee conveyed its problem in continuing with the campaign in the absence of a candidate. IUML district leaders had openly aired their concern over the state of affairs.Meanwhile, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said a decision on Rahul contesting from Wayanad would be taken soon. He told reporters in Mumbai that the AICC president had already stated that he was considering the request to contest from South India.“The Congress leadership has conveyed its desire of wanting Rahul in Wayanad,” Venugopal said.

Stay updated with all the Latest Thiruvananthapuram headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.