Lok Sabha elections 2019: Congress names ex-Kerala CM’s son in list of 16

While the party had decided 13 candidates earlier, it could not finalise the names in three seats – Wayanad, Vadakara and Alappuzha – due to differences between various factions, people familiar with the development said.

The Congress on Tuesday released its final list of 16 candidates the party will field in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state.

A Congress party supporter waves a party flag in New Delhi. (PTI File Photo)

Former chief minister K Karunakaran’s son, and sitting legislator, K Muralidharan is a surprise candidate in the list.

While the party had decided 13 candidates earlier, it could not finalise the names in three seats – Wayanad, Vadakara and Alappuzha – due to differences between various factions, people familiar with the development said.

Muralidharan has been fielded from Vadakara as a compromise candidate between two groups, one led by former CM Oommen Chandy and the other by opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, they said. “Once the party high command decides, we are bound to go by it. We will highlight politics of violence being unleashed by the CPI(M),” said Muralidharan. He will contest against CPI(M) veteran P Jayarajan, who resigned as Kannur district secretary, to contest from Vadakara.