Amidst growing discontent in the Congress in Kerala over the selection of DCC chiefs, Rahul Gandhi State leaders on Thursday were reminded of the spirit of “collective leadership” while the party attempted to pacify protesting stalwarts including Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala. Gandhi said at a function organized to mark the inauguration of the Kannur District Congress Committee office, “Over the years, the Congress in Kerala has set a splendid example of collective leadership. This collective spirit reflects the true ethos of the Congress party. ” Though Gandhi did not mention organizational issues in the state party, his statement assumes significance in the wake of growing discontent in the state leadership after the announcement of 14 district Congress committee presidents allegedly ignoring the sentiments of Chandy and Chennithala.
The two, who controlled the state Congress for 18 years, had come out openly against the way the new KPCC leaders chose the DCC presidents, including its president K Sudhakaran and the leader of the opposition in the state assembly VD Satheesan. AICC general secretary (in-charge, Kerala) Tariq Anwar, while approaching the warring leaders, described both Chandy and Chennithala as “party pillars” in Kerala and said that all decisions on organizational matters would be taken after consultation with them.
However, the leadership made it clear that PCC chief Sudhakaran would take the final decision in the party’s organizational matters in the state. At the inauguration ceremony of the DCC office in the presence of Congress general secretary KC Venugopal and Sudhakaran, Satheesan said, “There may be differences. But we will proceed to resolve all such issues. On organizational matters of Congress in Kerala, Sudhakaran has the last word.” ” .
Both Chandy and Chennithala joined Gandhi in the virtual function. Speaking to reporters here, Venugopal rubbished allegations that he was trying to form his own group in the state Congress.
Venugopal rubbished the allegations against the ‘A’ group led by Chandy and the ‘I’ group, saying, “I have no group. It is (his) imagination. Congress is my group and I have nothing beyond that.” Is.” by Chennithala. Two groups – “A” and “I” – have been active in the state unit of the Congress since the time of veteran leader and late K Karunakaran and senior leader AK Antony.
The groups have complained to Sonia Gandhi against the style of functioning of the new state leadership, reportedly with Venugopal’s blessings. Urging the leaders to accept the decision taken by the high command on the selection of DCC chiefs, Venugopal said the party’s central leadership is ready to listen to their grievances. Amid mounting pressure from groups ahead of another round of organizational reform, he also said that both Chandy and Chennithala are integral parts of the Congress in Kerala and all decisions will be taken after consulting them. Sudhakaran said he has a “formula” to resolve all the issues raised by Chandy and Chennithala “with the permission of the high command”.
He said the party would move ahead in Kerala with the implementation of new schemes being planned by its new leadership. “No one can stay away from it,” Sudhakaran said.
He also claimed that party leader AV Gopinath who announced his resignation from the primary membership of the Congress earlier this week would not leave the party. As voices of discontent against the KPCC leadership intensified, the Congress expelled KPCC secretary PS Prashant from the party, who wrote a letter to the high command alleging that AICC general secretary KC Venugopal was “acting as an agent of the BJP”. I was working in. In a stern message to leaders violating party discipline, the Congress had also issued show cause notices to two of its senior leaders, who were temporarily suspended two days ago for publicly expressing displeasure over the AICC’s selection of district chiefs of the party. was suspended from .
In a notice sent to former MLA K Shivdasan Nair and former KPCC general secretary KP Anil Kumar, the KPCC president has directed them to reply within seven days, otherwise action will be taken against them.
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