Kottayam: Behind-the-scene moves that saw Mahila Congress president dumped and denied seat were orchestrated by Oomen Chandy and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan. Even so, Latika Subash post her resignation, still maintains Oomen Chandy is her role model. Despite being a devoted “A” group follower, Thiruvanchoor and Chandy not only remained silent on Latika’s seat matter, they strategically cut off all avenues she could potenially access..
The problem pertaining to Latika’s demand could be resolved with relative ease by allocating the Poonjar seat to her. However , Oomen Chandy and Thiruvanchoor installed Tomi Kallani in that slot. Congressmen say Oomen Chandy refused to budge though Joseph faction had agreed for to swap Ettumanoor. Even so, Oomen Chandy, did tried his level best to try procure seats for bribery-tainted K Babu and KC Venugopal - an MLA for 39 long years. Most surmise that Oomen Chandy did not utter a word in recommendation for Latika.
By handing Kanjirapally to the Joseph faction, Latika could have been handed the Ettumanoor seat. However, Chennithala was insistent on his confidante, Joseph Vazhakkal, for Kanjirapally. Amid such conflicting interests, Latika practically had no one to speak for her. . She clung to hope that at the least, Vypin seat would come her way and went on to describe herself as daughter-in-law of Vypin although to no avail. She was simply denied seat without difference as to where, even as KSU presidents were conferred tickets to contest.
Latika has resigned her post including at AICC and as of now, prepares to contest as rebel in Ettumanoor. Incidentally, Ettumanoor has seen Congress rebels battle in earlier years too. In 1980 and 1987 when Congress rebel George Joseph Podipara fought elections there, UDF’s Joseph group candidate, KT Mathai, conceded defeat both times. LDF candidate Vaikom Vishvam won in 1980 and Joseph Podipara bagged the seat in 1987.
