Kerala Cong faction leaders revolt against high command list
Senior leaders Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala, heading two powerful groups respectively within the state Congress, have raised a banner of revolt over the list of new DCC presidents, announced by the party high command.
Both seasoned politicians, one a former chief minister and the other former PCC chief and opposition leader, have always been discreet in expressing their opinion publicly. But this time, they threw caution to the wind and expressed their displeasure in no uncertain manner over ‘lack of consultations’ in the selection of new party office bearers.
Their response came in separate media interactions. But both said there should have been more consultations in deciding the new DCC chiefs, which would have helped the party function in a more united manner in its difficult hour.
The open revolt followed the suspension of two other senior leaders, KP Anil Kumar and K Sivadasan Nair, from the party for expressing their disapproval of the high command list during a discussion in a news channel.
The suspension came within minutes of their airing their views and without seeking an explanation, indicating the resolve of the official leadership led by KPCC president K Sudhakaran, new opposition leader VD Satheesan and AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, a new power centre emerging within the state Congress, to handle any dissent with an iron hand.
There is widespread feeling that the new list is an attempt to force a change in the party leadership, meaning the domination of veterans Ommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala.