Now, Chandy tastes rebel wrath

The LDF isn't the only combine that is coming apart. The Congress is also facing a mutiny.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) isn't the only combine that is coming apart at its seems because of unseemly feuds. The Congress is also facing a mutiny.

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Political pundits have hailed the last-minute deal with senior leader K Karunakaran and his Democratic Indira Congress (DIC-K) —on the Congress's terms mind you —as a good move but disgruntled party workers aren't impressed by the poll arithmetic.

Many leaders denied tickets have gone ahead and announced their candidature from chosen seats. Eight-time Congress MLA in Pathanamthitta KK Nair, who was denied a ticket, has already announced that he would contest as an Independent. Former PCC general secretary Sarachandra Prasad is contesting from Thiruvananthpauram West, a seat allotted to DIC-K's Shobhana George.

Similarly in Piravam and Koyilandy the Congress-led Unit- ed Democratic Front is facing a rebel threat.

However, PCC chief Ramesh Chennithala, who returned from Delhi after announcing the candidates' list, said he would sort out all problems in a couple of days. "It is natural that workers are a little upset," he said, trying to underplay the rebel menace.

In DIC-K, the scene isn't different. In Kozhikode, agitated workers raised slogans and disrupted a party meeting.

Meanwhile, filing of nomination for the first phase has begun. Six southern districts will go to the polls in the first phase on April 22. The second phase of polling is scheduled for April 29 and third and final leg on May 3.