Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala:
Stephen George, general secretary of Kerala Congress-M, resigned from the party in protest against the party leadership's decision to deny him seat to contest in the April 13 assembly elections.
Announcing the decision at a press conference here, George, who had represented Kaduthuruthi in the Assembly between 2001-06, said he would be contesting from the constituency as an independent candidate.
George Sebastian, general secretary of the KC (Thomas), a partner of the LDF, who was also present, said his party welcomed George's decision. KC-T would soon take a decision on extending support to George's candidature, he said.
The former MLA said the KC-M, a UDF constituent, had "betrayed" him by allotting the Kaduthuruthi seat to former minister Mons Joseph, belonging to the KC-Joseph faction which recently merged with KC-M.
George said the leadership did not consider his committed work as a partyman for the last 33 years, while giving away the seat to Mons Joseph.
Ordinary party workers in the constituency had not yet come to terms with the party's decision to award the Kaduthuruthi seat to a person who had joined the party only a few months back, he said.
To a question, George said he would soon take a decision on joining the KC-T.
Announcing the decision at a press conference here, George, who had represented Kaduthuruthi in the Assembly between 2001-06, said he would be contesting from the constituency as an independent candidate.
George Sebastian, general secretary of the KC (Thomas), a partner of the LDF, who was also present, said his party welcomed George's decision. KC-T would soon take a decision on extending support to George's candidature, he said.
The former MLA said the KC-M, a UDF constituent, had "betrayed" him by allotting the Kaduthuruthi seat to former minister Mons Joseph, belonging to the KC-Joseph faction which recently merged with KC-M.
George said the leadership did not consider his committed work as a partyman for the last 33 years, while giving away the seat to Mons Joseph.
Ordinary party workers in the constituency had not yet come to terms with the party's decision to award the Kaduthuruthi seat to a person who had joined the party only a few months back, he said.
To a question, George said he would soon take a decision on joining the KC-T.
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