Thiruvananthapuram: Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran and Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala will leave for New Delhi on Wednesday to hold talks with vice-president Rahul Gandhi. The AICC leadership summoned them for talks on party revamp at a time when their cup of woes is full with KC (M) chief K. M. Mani deciding to sit as a separate bloc in the Assembly.
They will take a decision on forming a high power committee to strengthen the party. Already Mr Gandhi had met more than 80 leaders from the state and heard their views on strengthening the party after the poll debacle. The majority of them were of the opinion that party should be revamped right from the block level.
“A high power committee will be formed to decide the future course of action. Though a final decision will not be taken on Thursday, senior leaders like A. K. Antony will have a say in it,” said a Congress leader. A plethora of senior leaders cutting across the two factions had demanded to the AICC leadership that the party cannot go forth with KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran at the helm, putting them in a dilemma.
Mr Antony had recommended retaining Mr Sudheeran. Similarly, the AICC leadership had come out with a stern directive that under no circumstances should the leaders hold group meetings. Despite this, Mr Chennithala called the meeting of ‘I’ group only to get a rude jolt when P.P. Thankachan, the UDF convener, alone turned up. Mr Chennithala has been on damage controlling measures initiating meetings with prominent ‘I’ group leaders in various districts.
