THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As AICC is preparing for a generational change, the call for a change in the present Kerala leadership is also getting louder. KPCC vice-president and North Paravur MLA, V. D. Satheeshan was the first to demand a leadership change at the two-day KPCC camp executive meeting at Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Research Studies at Neyyar Dam on the outskirts of the capital city convened to discuss the poll debacle.
Ever since the Congress received a drubbing in the Assembly elections, a majority of the KPCC leaders had come down heavily on the three senior leaders – former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran and Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala. But Congress Working Committee member A. K. Antony was also not spared at the meeting citing that he did not intervene at the right time.
“The present leadership has lost its secular face. Corruption allegations against leaders have tainted the image of the party. The alleged land deals during the last period of the government turned against us, and the main reason for the defeat was corruption,” he said.
He also added that the party was not able to defend corruption allegations levelled against many, including the ministers. Another KPCC vice-president and Chadaya-mangalam Congress candidate M. M. Hassan who lost by close to 22, 000 votes to CPI candidate showed his ire against Mr Sudheeran.
Mr Hassan alleged that Mr Sudheeran was solely responsible for the party’s poor showing. “Mr Sudheeran’s stand on the selection of candidates snowballed into a major crisis. I am ready to quit my post following the debacle, and other leaders should also do the same. Like Mr Chandy, who refused to become Opposition Leader, Mr Sudheeran should also step down,” said Mr Hassan.
The leaders who spoke in the first session said the prohibition policy of the UDF government had boomeranged. The leaders did not spare the AICC leadership too. When leaders vented ire on Mr Antony, Mr Sudheeran asked to avoid personal criticisms.
