Konni assembly constituency in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala was being held by the Congress Party for the past 23 years. Following its long time MLA Adoor Prakash winning to the Parliament from Attingal, by-election became necessary and was held. Before officially declaring the candidate, Adoor Prakash who knew very well the pulse of the people, strongly suggested his close confident Robin Peter as his successor to carry on the developmental activities initiated by him. According to the opinion and wishes of majority of the people of the constituency, Robin Peter was the ideal candidate for contesting from Konni constituency on behalf of the UDF, and his winning chances were very high.
But as a result of the discord within the Congress leadership, there were some who objected to his candidature and suggested different names. While Adoor Prakash was very adamant regarding the candidature of Robin Peter and was repeatedly saying that his priority was winning chances, the Pathanamthitta DCC and some senior so called leaders like P J Kurian strongly objected to the candidature of Robin Peter and declared P Mohanraj as the UDF's Konni candidate.
The UDF candidate's defeat in Konni was very unfortunate especially at a time when the political atmosphere in Kerala is very much in favour for the Congress and people are vexed with the Pinarayi led LDF government for the increasing number of corruption mostly by the CPI(M) ministers and highhandedness of its activists. Many people are of the opinion that only some ministers belonging to the CPI party in the cabinet are fare.
Many people of Konni legislative assembly never knew the caste or community to which their leader Adoor Prakash belonged until now. He was loved by all people above any religious lines. He is the first one in the area to start many developmental works. Because of this, he automatically became their leader. But by hurting his feelings and recommendations while declaring the candidate, the traditional congress voters and persons without any political affiliation got offended and voted for K U Jenish Kumar (who got a margin of 9953 votes) as he is a youth and hails from an average middle class family.
Anyhow the people of Kerala are comparing what has happened in Konni and Vattiyoorkavu with the old saying, 'the operation was a success but the patient died' with the title of this article, "Groupism in Congress won in Konni but the UDF candidate lost!" Many people also feel that unless some senior leaders in Congress (who are a curse for the party) retire, the party will have no future!
Above all, the people are angry with the group leaders in Congress party for defeating the UDF candidate and passively helping the LDF candidate's victory and helping the chief minister boast that the victory in the by-election is a referendum for the government.
