'Unnikrishnan won't contest as rebel candidate'

Congress candidate from Vatakara, M T Padma said that she did not expect senior Congress leader K P Unnikrishnan would contest from this seat as rebel candidate.

Amidst speculations that senior Congress leader and former Union Minister K P Unnikrishnan might spring a surprise by declaring himself as a "rebel" candidate from Vatakara, Congress parliamentary candidate from Vatakara M T Padma on Thursday said she did not expect him to contest the polls as he would "strictly abide by the party decision".

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"These are only rumours and Unnikrishnan is a senior partyman who will always go by the decision of the party High Command", Padma said addressing a "face-to-face" programme of Vatakara LS candidates, organised by the Calicut Press Club here.

Asked about a press conference called by Unnikrishnan here on Friday to "reveal" his stand, she said, "I don't expect it, he is a senior party leader and will not turn a rebel".

Asked about appearance of posters extending support to him in many parts of the district, Padma said all Congressmen were united now and would ensure her victory at the hustings.

Unnikrishnan, who had posted a string of victories from the Vatakara Lok Sabha constituency till 1991 before he was finally defeated during the 1996 polls, had called a press conference here on Friday to make a statement on his stand.