Jebi Mather, United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate for the biennial Rajya Sabha election, filed her nomination papers on Monday. The election to the Upper House of Parliament is scheduled on March 31.
Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president K. Sudhakaran, former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee member Oommen Chandy, and other leaders accompanied her to meet the Legislature Secretary, who is the returning officer for the elections.
Mr. Satheesan scotched reports of rumblings of dissent in the Congress over Ms. Mather’s candidature. Earlier, Revolutionary Socialist Party leader A.A. Aziz had alleged that Ms. Mather’s nomination was a ‘payment’ seat. Other Congress fellow travellers had also taken a dig at Ms. Mather’s candidature on social media.
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said the high command had picked Ms. Mather for the seat and the party stood behind her as one. He said he had proposed a different name, but it did not matter now that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had taken a decision.
