Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress has instructed the CMP leaders not to participate in the Ernakulam district UDF meeting to be held in Kochi next Saturday. KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala has told its leaders C. P. John and K. R. Aravindakshan to skip the meet.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Chennithala will hold conciliatory talks with the warring factions on January 15 here. Chandy told reporters here that John was made a member of the Planning Board not as representative of the CMP.
Aravindakshan had earlier demanded that John be removed from the Planning Board member’s post. Chandy opined that the CMP’s internal problems would not affect the UDF and said that the issues between them would be resolved soon. Chennithala demanded that the responsibility of power struggle regarding Pappinisserry anti-venom centre should also be fixed soon.
Aravindakshan told DC that the bickering between veteran leader M. V. Raghavan and John dated back to the 2011 Assembly elections.
“CMP was holding the Azhikode seat for more than 25 years when John played spoilsport and it had to give the prestigious seat to Muslim League which was won by K. M. Shaji. Instead, the CMP was provided with Kunnamkulam seat where John was trounced by Babu M. Palisherry of the CPM by 481 votes”, said Aravindakshan.
He also added that it was as a return favour that Muslim League leader P. K. Kunhalikutty gave two crucial posts to John – Planning Board member as well as vice-chairmanship of Kerala State Bamboo Corporation Limited.
On Friday, while John’s faction met here, the ousted leaders of Aravindakahsan group were huddled in Thrissur. John maintained that MVR is still the party’s general secretary.
John said that since the Congress leadership had called for reconciliatory talks, he will attend it.
