The Congress’ decision to allot its lone Rajya Sabha seat in Kerala to Kerala Congress (M) has triggered strong protest from a section of the party in the state. The Rajya Sabha seat had fallen vacant with the retirement of senior party leader P J Kurian.

The Congress’s decision to give the seat to KC(M) was announced after former CM Oommen Chandy, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president M M Hassan held discussions with Congress president Rahul Gandhi and KC(M)’s Jose K Mani along with Kunhalikutty.

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Signalling that the decision to allot the RS seat was taken to strengthen UDF as part of the party’s resolve to bring together democratic and secular forces to take on BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Chandy told media that, “RS seat was given to KC-M as a special case.”

The decision was part of the United Democratic Front (UDF) formula to bring back the miffed KC-M, which broke away from the front two years ago over differences with the Congress on the ‘Bar scam’ in which KC-M supremo and former finance minister K M Mani is facing bribery allegations.

Former KPCC President V M Sudheeran reacted sharply to the development saying the decision was “suicidal” and would only help in “destroying” the Congress in Kerala.

It has also “hurt” the sentiments of party workers, Sudheeran said, adding he was “pained”.

Visibly upset with the decision, Kurian echoed similar sentiments and said no discussion was held in the party or election committee. “This is a surrender of the Congress,” he told reporters in Delhi.

Meanwhile, six congress MLAs have reportedly written to Congress president Rahul Gandhi against the party’s decision to allot the RS seat to KC-M.

Talking to PTI, V T Balaram said the decision had “disappointed” party workers.

“We have asked the congress president to reconsider the decision and recommend a party candidate. It has also affected the morale of the party workers,” he said.

A total of three RS seats from Kerala are falling vacant later this month, of which, as per the strength of UDF MLAs, the front could win one and LDF two seats.

(With agency inputs)