Following the Election Commission's announcement of bypolls, Congress named its candidates for Palakkad and Chelakkara assembly seats, alongside Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. However, Rahul Mamkootathil's nomination for Palakkad sparked dissent from youth leader Dr P Sarin, who had also sought the position.
Published Oct 16, 2024 | 5:22 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 16, 2024 | 5:22 PM
A poster released by the Congress as part of campaigning
Hours after the Election Commission of India announced the by-elections, the Congress party sprang into action, unveiling its list of candidates for two Assembly seats—Palakkad and Chelakkara—and the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency.
While Priyanka Gandhi’s candidature from Wayanad had been declared earlier in June, the party fielded Indian Youth Congress (IYC) state president Rahul Mamkootathil from Palakkad and former Alathur MP, Ramya Haridas, from Chelakkara.
However, the swift announcement of Rahul Mamkootathil’s candidacy for Palakkad triggered unexpected turbulence within the Congress camp, with Dr P Sarin, a key youth leader and contender for the seat, voicing open dissent.
Since 2011, the Congress has held the Palakkad Assembly seat, making Sarin’s public opposition a jolt to party leaders.
Sarin, the state secretary of IYC and convener of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee’s (KPCC) digital media cell, expressed his displeasure over the candidate selection process, alleging bias and a lack of transparency.
A poster released by the Congress as part of campaigning
It is said that though his name was considered among the probables, it appears that Rahul’s nomination was the only one submitted to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) for approval.
It might be this factor that forced him to accuse the leadership of promoting internal favoritism. He subtly suggested that Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil, a close ally of Mamkootathil, was instrumental in securing the nomination.
A physician-turned-civil servant – turned -politician, Dr. Sarin completed his MBBS at Government Medical College, Kozhikode, before clearing the civil services exam on his first attempt in 2008, securing the 555th rank.
Dr P Sarin
He joined the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS), with postings in Thiruvananthapuram and Karnataka.
However, his passion for politics prompted him to resign in 2016 and join the Congress.
Sarin played a key role in the 2019 Lok Sabha election as part of Congress’ IT cell and later joined the state leadership of the IYC.
Though he was fielded as the Congress candidate from the Ottapalam Assembly constituency in the 2021 elections, he lost to CPI(M)’s K Premkumar by over 15,000 votes.
In 2023, following the exit of Anil K Antony from the party, Sarin was appointed KPCC digital media convener.Apart from politics, he also runs a civil service training institute.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Sarin fiercely criticised the leadership’s handling of the Palakkad ticket. He argued that the nomination did not reflect the constituency’s political dynamics.
Through his press conference, Sarin asserted that Palakkad cannot be won with poor choices. He asserted it by citing E Sreedharan who secured over 50,000 votes in 2021 Assembly polls, and the Congress only scraped through with a narrow victory.
“We need a candidate with both professional credibility and a personal connection to the constituency—and I fit that bill,” he conveyed.
He confirmed that he had written to Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, urging them to reconsider the decision. “If the Congress leadership overlooks ground realities, we will pay the price in the election. Like in the case of Haryana,” he warned.
When pressed on whether he was exploring options with the CPI(M) or planning to shift political allegiance, Sarin neither confirmed nor denied.“Let’s see how the situation unfolds,” he said, leaving the door open to speculation.
Attempting to downplay the controversy, Shafi Parambil dismissed Sarin’s allegations, saying the candidate selection process was transparent.
“Rahul Mamkootathil’s name emerged from consultations with party workers across all levels. He is the right person to represent Palakkad,” Shafi said.
Shafi Parambil and Rahul Mamkootathil
He also denied that Mamkootathil was “his nominee,” emphasising that the decision was made collectively by the party.
“Our campaign will officially kick off with Rahul’s arrival in Palakkad at 4 PM on Thursday,” Shafi announced.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan expressed surprise at the dissent, stating, “The KPCC president and I were entrusted with finalising candidates. We followed the party’s procedures to the letter. I am not aware of the reasons behind Sarin’s dissatisfaction.”
The dissent comes at a critical time for the Congress, which has held the Palakkad seat for over a decade. With just weeks left before polling day, the internal rift raises concerns about the party’s chances in the constituency.
The open discontent also hints at deeper fissures within the party, potentially complicating the Congress’ campaign.
Only time will tell whether the Congress can manage to contain the fallout and focus on the electoral battle ahead—or if the unrest will escalate, impacting the party’s prospects.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
