Kerala assembly elections: Despite support for veteran LDF rebels, Cong banks on young brigade

Kochi: Congress's candidate selection for the upcoming assembly elections has reflected a generational shift. While the party is supporting nearly eight veteran rebels from LDF, notably G Sudhakaran, Congress itself has not even considered the candidature of a number of its prominent veteran leaders. In Ernakulam, the exclusion of seasoned warhorses has sent shockwaves through the district unit. Figures like Dominic Presentation, Ajay Tharayil, Joseph Vazhakkan, Abdul Muthalib, N Venugopal, K P Dhanapalan and INTUC leader K P Haridas, all of whom have anchored the party's local machinery for decades, were not even considered for contesting in various seats. The most poignant example of this transition is Joseph Vazhakkan. Having previously represented Muvattupuzha, Vazhakkan was asked to make way for Mathew Kuzhalnadan. Though he shifted his hopes to Ettumanoor, Vazhakkan's exclusion there in favour of Nattakom Suresh has left a bitter trail. "Congress has always attempted to bring in a new crop of leaders from time to time," said former KPCC general secretary N Venugopal. He cites the examples of the 1970s, which saw the rise of younger leaders like Oommen Chandy, A C Shanmukha Das and Kadannapalli Ramachandran, and the 1980s, when Ramesh Chennithala and G Karthikeyan rose to prominence. "This time, the party focused on youthful faces, but it is a mix. It does not matter whether you are contesting or not; I have worked in various capacities without ever contesting parliamentary or assembly polls," Venugopal said, backing the ‘generation shift'. By barring sitting MPs — most of them veteran leaders — from contesting and promoting fresh faces, Congress aims to counter LDF's organized cadre with youthful energy. In Ernakulam, opposition leader V D Satheesan is leading the young brigade bringing in faces like Mohammed Shiyas, who has been fielded from Kochi constituency. Another instance is that of Kochi deputy mayor Deepak Joy, who got the nod from Tripunithura after veteran leader K Babu announced recently that he was stepping away from electoral politics. What is striking amidst Congress's youthful charge is the fact that the party is also backing veteran LDF rebels, including former CPM heavyweight G Sudhakaran in Ambalappuzha. The upcoming elections will determine if this gamble pays off. By prioritizing generational change and strategic alliances with LDF rebels, Congress is attempting to shed its image as a ‘party of veterans'. However, in a district like Ernakulam, where personal loyalty often trumps party symbols, sidelining names like Dominic Presentation may prove to be a double-edged sword.