Date:05/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/05/stories/2006040502990200.htm

Kerala - Kochi

A losing battle for him

K.P. Dhanapalan, president, District Congress Committee, has been a loser when it comes to finding a seat to contest the Assembly elections.

Mr. Dhanapalan had to withdraw from the fray last time even after completing the first round of election campaign at Vadakkekara constituency.

During that time, he obeyed the dictates of the party bosses and left the scene for M.A. Chandrasekharan, a nominee of K. Karunakaran.

Though it was widely expected that the party would do justice to him this time, the seat eventually went to sitting MLA M.A. Chandrasekharan, who is now in DIC(K). Some of the Congress activists and leaders, who were agitated over the neglect towards Mr. Dhanapalan, vented their ire after the party finalised the candidates' list.

K.S. Sudhi