Kochi: Senior Congress leader Ajay Tharayil on Saturday came out in the open against the leadership denying him a seat in assembly elections.Tharayil claimed that a specific understanding had been reached regarding his candidacy before the preparing of candidate list. According to him, UDF leadership had assured him Tripunithura seat on the condition that former mayor Tony Chammany was accommodated in Vypeen.He added that he had not lobbied for a ticket, rather, party leadership had approached him to contest in place of senior leader K Babu.“I was cheated the moment group politics took over the decision-making process,” Tharayil stated, expressing his disappointment with the sudden shift in party’s stance.Noting that his political journey is dedicated to protecting rights and benefits of adivasi and dalit populations, Tharayil claimed that these benefits are often usurped by opportunistic individuals who later masquerade as “activists”.Tharayil’s public dissent comes even as UDF attempts to present a united front against LDF.Meanwhile, sitting MLA Eldhose Kunnappilly, who too was denied Perumbavoor seat, said he would take part in election campaigning of former panchayat president Manoj Moothedan, who the party nominated from the seat.
