Kochi, Sept 09: After creating a ripple by quitting the Congress and deciding to test his electoral fortunes in the September 23 bypoll for Ernakulam Lok Sabha seat, former Union Minister S Krishnakumar today withdrew his nomination after he failed to win BJP support, leaving seven candidates in the fray. With Krishnakumar and an independent candidate withdrawing nominations, only seven candidates are now in fray. Krishnakumar, a bureaucrat-turned politician, told reporters here that he had decided to contest hoping to get BJP backing. He expressed confidence that if he had contested he would have won. Even after the BJP had announced its support to the former Marxist leader, V Vishwanatha Menon, Krishnakumar had not given up hopes and had kept his fingers crossed.
He said he had decided to come out of the Congress(I), of which he had been a member for 23 years, as he was fed up with the factionalism in the state Congress.

Lashing out at his former mentor and senior Congress leader, K Karunakaran, he said he had been 'humiliated and unjustly' denied his rightful place in the Congress by Karunakaran whose sole aim was to promote his son and daughter.
Krishnakumar also released a copy of his resignation letter sent to Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
Meanwhile, AICC General Secretary, Veerappa Moily, arrived here today and held discussions with Chief Minister, A K Antony.
Bureau Report