Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy with minister K Babu. (Press Trust of India file photo)
A day after Congress high command approved his candidature from Thrippunithura, Kerala Excise Minister K Babu, who faced corruption charges in the bribery case, today asserted that he would retain the seat in the Assembly polls.
"I will win. I have been representing Thrippunithura for last 25 years. I know the people of my constituency. They will re-elect me. There will be a continuation of the UDF government in the state after the polls," Mr Babu, a Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's confidant, told reporters in Kochi.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader and former lawmaker, P Rajeeve, hit out at the Congress leadership for fielding "tainted leaders" like Mr Babu even after his nomination was reportedly opposed by KPCC president VM Sudheeran.
"Candidature of leaders like Babu is a blot on the Congress. We have fielded our youth wing leader M Swaraj to take on Babu. We are certain that the people of Thrippunithura will definitely punish those who are corrupt," Mr Rajeeve, who is also the Ernakulam district secretary of the CPI(M), said.
Working president of Kerala Bar Owners Association Biju Ramesh had alleged Mr Babu was given Rs 10 crore as bribe for renewal of licences of liquor bars, a charge rubbished by the Congress leader.
Mr Babu had strongly rejected the charge saying there is no case pending against him in any court of the country over the issue.