Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Mullappally Ramachandran today threw his weight behind Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, saying power in Kerala can be retained under his able leadership.
In a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, he emphasised the need for standing solidly behind Chandy for winning the May 16 Assembly polls.
Power can be retained in Kerala "provided AICC should, under the given circumstances, stand by the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy," Ramachandran said.
Amid strong differences between Chandy and PCC Chief V M Sudheeran over fielding tainted Ministers in the polls, the former Union Minister noted that as of now Chandy's popularity is at a high level and any attempt to weaken him will lead to disaster in the forthcoming elections.
"All studies go to show that Chandy is most popular not only among Congressmen but among the public at large. The latest study by AXIS My India conclusively prove that the people of Kerala prefer Achuthanandan first (35 per cent) followed by Chandy (34 per cent). This is in the backdrop of all the recent allegations against the government," the letter said.
Strongly backing Chandy, he said the chief minister has always been with the common man and he enjoyed their support.
"His mass contact programme has evoked great response among the weaker and vulnerable sections and he has become the darling of the masses, regardless of political affiliations," Ramachandran said.
He also cited development works done by his government including Kochi Metro project and Vizhinjam port, claiming it was "uppermost in the minds of the people of the state."
"With elections so close, the message of weakening the Chief Minister will dampen the prospects of our party and it would ultimately lead to our defeat.
"I therefore submit that the prospects of our party in the forthcoming election can be ensured only by getting Chandy to actively involve and lead the election campaign from the front," the letter said.
"I reiterate that any attempt to weaken the chief minister at this moment will not augur well for the party in the state of Kerala. My interest is only the overall interest of the party alone," he said.
Urging the party leadership to make sincere efforts to assuage the feelings of the chief minister before announcing the final list of candidates, he said "I am sure Chandy will be an ace campaigner for our party.
