Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress 'I' group has rose as one in rebellion against Home minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, charging him with anti-Congressism and sullying the image of the UDF Government. While Kannur strongman K. Sudhakaran made a frontal non-holds-barred attack on the Home Minister, K. Muraleedharan was cryptic but equally scathing.
Congress MLA and prominent ‘green brigade’ leader T.N. Prathapan was one of the first leaders to criticize Thiruvanchoor on Monday when news broke out that the accused in T.P. Chandrasekharan murder were enjoying a vacation atmosphere in jail, posing gaily for pictures and posting them on Facebook.
Later Kannur MP K. Sudhakaran met the press and blasted Thiruvanchoor, even asking for his resignation. The next in line to snub Thiruvanchoor was another ‘I’ group leader Muraleedharan.
“Yes, it’s the failure of the Home ministry. The latest developments show that the accused will not be punished. I have an opinion on whether the Home minister has to be changed or not. But I am reserving my comments in deference to the KPCC’s and AICC’s diktat against making public statements”, said Muraleedharan.
In fact many of the leaders cutting across group affiliations are shying away from voicing their statements in public forum. But a prominent ‘A’ group leader from Kochi told DC that Thiruvanchoor has been off late creating unwanted controversies.
“The ‘I’ group’s strategy is to ‘attack’ him collectively. One of us from the ‘A’ group will be supporting Thiruvanchoor in the coming days. There are no chances of a cabinet re-shuffle at this juncture when the Lok Sabha elections are just round the corner”, said another ‘A’ group MLA to DC.
With KPCC executive committee list likely to be announced within a few days, sparks are expected to fly in party discussions. Also, UDF meeting is also likely to be called very soon.
