THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Eyebrows have been raised at the absence of former KPPC president V.M. Sudheeran at the AICC plenary session being held in New Delhi, though a 500-plus Congress contingent from the state is attending it. A KPCC general secretary said that Mr Sudheeran had been staying away from party functions after Mr Rahul Gandhi became the Congress president. It is said that he has been unhappy with the choice of AICC office-bearers from the state.
"Sudheeran is creating a bad precedent as it is the time for all Congress leaders to unite against the Sangh Parivar's agenda to saffronise the country. UPA chairman Sonia Gandhi came down heavily against the BJP national leadership on Saturday. The Congress leaders should convey to the masses that they mean business," he said. It may be recalled that Mr Sudheeran had also kept off the concluding rally of Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala's 'Padayorukkam' at central stadium a few months ago.
However, all the other top KPCC leaders led by party president M. M. Hassan, Mr Ramesh Chennithala and former chief minister Oommen Chandy are in New Delhi. Though the AICC had approved a list of 50 KPCC office-bearers and another 15 co-opted members for the plenary session, a large team, including Youth Congress leaders and those of feeder organisations has reached Delhi by arranging their own air tickets and accommodation. "The majority of us have been sitting scattered and there have been no group photo sessions," said a Congress MLA. The plenary session will conclude with a public meeting at Indira Gandhi indoor stadium which will be addressed by Mr Rahul Gandhi on Sunday evening.
