THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: AICC secretary Tom Vadakkan's hope of making it to the Lok Sabha from Thrissur in Kerala has run into rough weather, with a section of state Congress leadership coming out openly against the move.

On Sunday, state spokesman of Youth Congress Gopa Prathap was expelled from the party for six years for speaking against Vadakkan. On Saturday, Prathap said Vadakkan wouldn't win if he contested from Thrissur.

Prathap isn't alone in going to town against Vadakkan. Also, former minister and senior Congress leader K P Viswanatha Menon on Saturday had said Vadakkan would lose the poll if he contested from Thrissur because he was the nominee of a particular community (read Christian).

The outbursts have come close on the heels of reports that the Catholic church in Thrissur was pitching for Vadakkan's candidature. Thrissur has a significant Christian population which the church is hoping will rally behind Vadakkan. During his off-late frequent visits to Thrissur, Vadakkan has made it a point to visit Archbishop Mar Andrew Thazhath.

Even before the election dates were announced, rumours had been doing the rounds that Vadakkan would contest from Thrissur. District Congress chief C N Balakrishnan had criticised the move to "impose outsiders ignoring dedicated party workers who are more in tune with ground realities''.

Vadakkan had said it was for the party to decide from where he should contest the election. He also warned that Balakrishnan might face disciplinary action for his remarks.

