Kannur candidate meets Sudhakaran

Kannur/T'puram: UDF candidate in Kannur T O Mohanan on Friday visited senior Congress leader K Sudhakaran, putting an end to the ongoing dispute over candidature in the constituency for the upcoming assembly polls. This is the first meeting between Mohanan, who is contesting on Congress ticket, and Sudhakaran who pressurised the party leadership for the seat.Sudhakaran draped a shawl over Mohanan and offered him all support. Speaking to the media, Sudhakaran said he honoured his assurance to the party and he would work to ensure Congress's victory in the polls. Sudhakaran is expected to attend Mohanan's election convention in Kannur on Saturday.Mohanan told the media that he would move forward with Sudhakaran's guidance and the senior leader would lead the election campaign in Kannur. "Party workers, including me, will strongly stand by him," he said.Mohanan said confusion over candidature was natural in Congress, but after party's final decision there was no issue. He expressed confidence over winning the seat. "The delay in starting the campaign wouldn't affect the chances of victory. We will strengthen the campaign and reach out to voters soon," he said.Respect party's decision: PrakashMeanwhile, UDF convener and MP Adoor Prakash on Friday said that while people in Konni in Pathanamthitta wanted him to contest the assembly election, he respects Congress's decision not to field MPs.Speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, Prakash said he had represented Konni as an MLA for 23 years. He said he later contested and won the Lok Sabha election from Attingal following the party's directive. "People of Konni repeatedly requested me to contest the assembly election. I had expressed my willingness, subject to the national leadership allowing an exemption for MPs. However, we accept AICC's decision that MPs should not contest," he said.