Former govt chief whip blasts CPI-M for denying him ticket

A day after the Left Democratic Front denied a ticket to him for the May 16 Assembly polls in Kerala, former government chief whip P C George today hit out at the CPI(M), alleging that the main Left party made "payment decision" with regard to his sitting Poonjar Assembly seat.
Criticising the LDF decision to allocate the seat to newly formed Kerala Congress (Democratic), he alleged that he was "cheated" by a section of the CPI(M) leaders.
George claimed that he is considered as the real Left candidate by LDF workers in Poonjar Assembly constituency.
"It is not the issue of payment seat. It is the issue of payment decision," George said about the CPI(M)'s decision not to field him as LDF candidate from Poonjar constituency in Kottayam district.

George said he would contest as the "people's candidate" from Poonjar.
He also attacked Pinarayi Vijayan for not giving him an LDF ticket, alleging that the CPI(M) leader was unhappy with him as he supported V S Achuthananadan during the group rivalry between them in the CPI(M).
"It is big business which takes decision regarding ticket distribution in the LDF," George alleged.