Congress Expels Digital Media Convenor Sarin for Questioning Party’s Palakkad Bypoll Candidate Choice

GG News Bureau
Thiruvananthapuram, 17th Oct. Congress digital media convenor Dr. P. Sarin was expelled from the party’s primary membership on Thursday. This decision by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) came shortly after Sarin publicly criticized the party leadership over its candidate selection for the Palakkad assembly bypoll.

As Sarin held a press conference in Palakkad to announce his intention to collaborate with the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the KPCC issued a statement confirming his expulsion due to “serious anti-party activities and indiscipline.” This announcement coincided with Sarin making allegations against several Congress leaders, including opposition leader V.D. Satheeshan and Palakkad by-election candidate Rahul Mamkootathil.

During the press conference, Sarin accused Satheeshan of adopting a “soft approach” toward the BJP and claimed that a small group within the party was undermining the interests of grassroots workers. He stated, “The party is in the hands of a caucus. They do not give space to the party workers to express their opinions.”

Sarin’s discontent was rooted in the selection of Youth Congress state president Mamkootathil as the candidate for the upcoming bypoll, following Shafi Parambil’s vacating of the seat after his election to the Lok Sabha. Sarin had previously expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision and warned that unless the party addressed the issues, Palakkad could face a situation similar to Haryana.

Reports suggest that the CPI(M) may consider Sarin as a potential Left candidate for the Palakkad seat, with the district leadership indicating that a decision on the candidate would be forthcoming. Sarin emphasized his support for the Left, stating, “I will be working for the Left in this election, though it is not as a candidate.”