Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today described as 'baseless' reports that Congress high command had 'succumbed' to pressures from him and cleared the candidature of his five confidants, including three Ministers, to contest the May 16 assembly polls.
"High command does not succumb to any pressures from any quarters. After listening to everyone, they take appropriate decision. To describe this as succumbing to pressures, is not right," he told reporters at Vakathanam in Kottayam District after attending a ruling UDF poll convention.
Chandy had locked horns with KPCC President V M Sudheeran, over the candidature of two ministers-- K Babu (Tripunithura) and Adoor Prakash (Konni), who had faced corruption charges besides NORKA Minister, K C Joseph (Irikkur), and two MLAs -- Dominic Presentation (Kochi) and Benny Behanan (Thrikkakara).
Sudheeran insisted that those facing corruption allegations and had contested more than four times should make way for fresh faces, party sources had said.
However, this was not acceptable to Chandy.
Chandy, Sudheeran and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had been in Delhi for the past one week to finalise the list of the candidates from the state and holding discussions with the party high command and returned to Kerala today.
Earlier on arrival at Kochi airport, Chandy replying to a question by reporters whether he would be in the fray, said "let the list be out first, then I will respond."
He also said the list was expected later today. However, it was now expected to be released tomorrow.
