Kasaragod (Kerala) | Uduma MLA K Neelakandan on Friday said he had filed a complaint with AICC observers alleging that his preference for the chief minister's post was not recorded after the CLP meeting held recently in Thiruvananthapuram.
His response came after a national daily published a photograph showing a list allegedly held by AICC observer Mukul Wasnik while coming out after the CLP meeting on Thursday.
The list reportedly contained names of Congress MLAs and a column indicating their preferences for the Chief Minister's post.
A few MLAs, including Sandeep Varier, Sajeev Joseph, T O Mohanan, Sunny Joseph, Usha Vijayan and T Siddique, were shown as having marked "KC", which was interpreted as support for K C Venugopal for the Chief Minister's post.
"KC+RC" was reportedly written against the name of I C Balakrishnan.
"RC" was interpreted as a reference to senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, who is also a contender for the Chief Minister's post.
However, the space in front of Neelakandan's name reportedly remained blank.
Speaking to reporters here, Neelakandan said he had conveyed his opinion regarding the Chief Minister's choice to AICC observers Wasnik and Maken.
"I saw the photograph. I do not know why my preference was not recorded. I have sent an email to AICC leaders Wasnik and Maken in this regard and lodged my complaint," he said.
He said he was unaware why the name he suggested was not recorded and added that it could create a wrong impression among party leaders and the public that he had not expressed his opinion before the AICC observers.
"I spoke to the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly this morning and he was convinced about it," he said.
However, when asked about his preference for the Chief Minister's post, Neelakandan declined to reveal it to the media.
Currently, V D Satheesan, K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala are considered contenders for the Chief Minister's post. The final decision will be taken by the party high command after the CLP passes a resolution authorising the Congress president to decide on the matter.
The Congress has 63 MLAs in the Assembly, while the UDF secured 102 seats in the election held for the 140-member House
