Oommen Chandy's family member will replace him as Congress candidate in Puthuppally: KPCC chief Sudhakaran

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Congress stalwart Oommen Chandy as the party candidate from the Puthuppally constituency he represented for 53 years, KPCC chief K Sudhakaran on Sunday said it would be someone from the veteran leader's family. Later, in a statement, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sudhakaran said he never meant that only a member of Chandy's family would become the party candidate for Puthuppally assembly constituency. Sudhakaran, also the Kannur MP, said he only meant that Chandy's family members would also be considered and consulted during the discussions on who should be the Congress candidate from the constituency. «No discussions have been held by the party on that subject yet,» he added. Initially, Sudhakaran was seen telling reporters in Kochi that unofficially discussions have begun on who should be the candidate and officially it would start a couple of days later. However, there was no doubt that it would be someone from Chandy's family, he said. At the same time, the KPCC chief also said that the decision on who it should be would be decided by the family and not the party.

Amidst all the speculation, Chandy's daughter Achu Oommen made it clear that she was not interested in entering active politics.

«I lived in the shade of my father. I want to live on as the daughter of Oommen Chandy. I have no interest in entering active politics. After dad, the only other politician in the family is Chandy Oommen,» she told reporters in Kottayam. She also said the subject of who should replace her father in the assembly constituency was «premature» and ought to have been avoided for the time being. «I did not ever think this topic would crop up so fast after dad's death. It is too early for such talks. To be honest,