DCC leaders’ spat intensifies

Mr Sugathan, convenor of election committee, Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency, told Deccan Chronicle that the DCC president was carrying out a campaign against SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan as well as the Yogam.

“The DCC is not anti-Natesan or anti-Yogam. But Mr Shukkoor is in conflict with Mr Natesan,” he said. Referring to Ms Shanimol Usman’s demand for a probe into Venugopal-Saritha links, he said, Mr Shukkoor, in a report submitted to the KPCC recently, had alleged that Ms Shanimol had worked against the UDF candidate. But I hadn’t seen any lapse on her part and it was a baseless allegation,” he said. In his response, Mr Shukkoor said he was firm on whatever he had said in the KPCC executive meeting on Tuesday.

“Since the party has strictly banned mud-slinging among leaders, I will respond against all criticisms at the appropriate time,” he said and added that Ms Usman’s allegations against Mr Venugopal were baseless. Mr Shukkoor had alleged at the KPCC meeting that Mr Vellappally Natesan had asked the Yogam members to defeat Mr Venugopal. Saritha had said earlier that she was intimidated by Mr Natesan for revealing the alleged links of Thushar Vellappally, Mr Natesan’s son, to the solar scam.

Solar case Biju Radhakrishnan said on Wednesday that Saritha was a ‘toy’ in the hands of Mr Venugopal. He was talking to mediapersons while being brought to the Cherthala court in connection with a cheating case filed by a Cherthala native.

The face-off between Mr Shukkoor and Mr Natesan has a long history. On May 23 last year, the DCC had passed a resolution against Mr Natesan demanding his resignation as Yogam general secretary.