File photo of Defence Minister AK Antony.
Congress today scotched speculation that senior leader and Defence Minister AK Antony might contest from a Lok Sabha seat in Kerala.
"Antony himself has asked me to make it clear to the media that he would not be contesting the Lok Sabha polls. He wants this to be conveyed to you since speculation is rife in a section of media that he might enter the fray this time," Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president V M Sudheeran said.
He was briefing mediapersons after a meeting of the party's state election committee Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Mr Antony is now a member of the Rajya Sabha.
Sudheeran said the list of party candidates for the Lok Sabha polls would be finalised next week and get the endorsement of central election committee by March 13.
He wanted party functionaries and the media to refrain from speculating on the matter till the list is finalised.
Sudheeran also said AICC had directed the state unit to take stringent action against leaders and office-bearers making open statements detrimental to the interests of the party.